love buenasuerte

AWARENESS ON HYPERTENSION during Nutrition Festival

2011-10-26T00:46:00.000-07:00

“The first step toward change is awareness. The second step is acceptance. Increased awareness through education could be a great help toward improving, saving habits and increasing participation in the community.”

Decrease awareness on hypertension is one of the leading problems in Barangay Buenasuerte. On the survey done last 2009, lack of awareness is the main cause of high incidence of hypertension. There are several reasons why this high incidence exists. First, no one had taught the community members what the disease is, its signs and symptoms, complications and how to prevent it. Few only knew that most of the elders in the barangay die because of its complications. Second, household members especially farmers are not eager to commit themselves on regular monitoring because they are too busy with their baul (toil lands) which are kilometres away from their home and they spend their week days cultivating and staying overnight in keeping an eye on destructive forces. Third, community members can hardly have their blood pressures checked on regular basis or anytime they want because of lack of accessibility. Only one blood pressure apparatus is on hand in the health center which is only open every Thursday 8AM-12noon. Finally, unavailability of trained persons who could check the blood pressure whenever the Municipal Midwife is absent. The three Barangay Health Workers in each designated purok are not equipped in knowledge in checking and monitoring blood pressure of the community members.

One of the objectives of the medical students in the barangay is to increase health promotion and prevention of hypertension among community members. They believed that the awareness in health is interdependent on habits of each person that can be controlled by proper education. Increased awareness through education could be a great help toward improving, saving habits and increasing participation of the community. The salty and fatty foods they eat every day, having sedentary life style and smoking as one of their vices are some factors that can contribute to the high incidence of the said disease.

Life style modification is the most effective way in preventing hypertension as emphasize in every health teaching done by the medical students. They advocate exercise, diet and avoidance of smoking as preventive measures in combating hypertension. To catch their full attention, last April 2011, they launched the Kalingawan sa Buena Suerte 2011, together with the exercise regimen “Ako ug Ikaw Maghataw - Aksyon Kontra Alta Presyon”.

April 8, 2011 – Nutrition Festival - mothers with their children are preparing for the day’s satiable activity ---- a cooking contest entitled “Lami nga Pagkaon Kontra Alta Presyon ug Malnutrition” to interested household members. The contest includes original recipes of healthy and nutritious food utilizing vegetable ingredients available in their backyard garden which are low in sodium content, high in fiber, minerals and vitamins which is helpful in hypertensive persons. Three groups participated with recipes namely Halang-halang nga puso nang saging ug gabi, Ginataang gabi ala Buenasuerte and Special pinakbet. To the non-participants, this program will give them ideas in preparing nutritious food varieties that are low cost and readily available. Proper preparation of food on low sodium diet by the contestants is valuable, which is part of their contribution in the upcoming cook booklet to be disseminated next year. This is to ensure every hypertensive attains the appropriate balanced diet as well as the non-hypertensive.

The families went home not only with fullness in stomach but also with satiety in knowledge gained from their neighbours. It is truly a privilege to be able to support health causes like this even on this level, and also remarkable that something as simple as cooking contest like this can empower them to create change and awareness in the community.

Ang Kwento ni Nene Lito at Jose -- Healthy Lifestyle Campaign!

2011-10-23T00:19:00.000-07:00

The RAW BLOOPER VIDS :)

2011-10-22T21:39:00.000-07:00

Azim and Kriska

Samee and Sheila

Jake and Tash

Rea and Rayyan

2011-10-22T20:49:00.000-07:00

The Buena Suerte Video Presentation

Garantisadong Pambata at Barangay Alvenda Mutia Zamboanga del Norte

2011-10-22T20:40:00.000-07:00

Garantisadong Pambata at Barangay Alvenda Mutia Zamboanga Del Norte

Nov 2, '09 11:34 PM
for everyone

Its October 12, 2009, a festive day for Zamboanga's Hermosa Festival.
As this day makes us wander our minds as to what we are missing in the festivities in the city, we then planned to make it worth the day.

The Buensuerte group, in the commitment to serve the people in the community, started this day with enthusiasm as we participate for Garantisadong Pambata at Barangay Alvenda with Ma'am Marilyn, our Barangay Midwife. We took an hour-long hike, enjoying the early sun and the fresh morning at Buenasuerte Purok 1 on the way to Alvenda.

To shed some lights as to what Garantisadong Pambata is, it is a bi-annual program which started in 1999. It is a response to the call of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to reduce the mortality of children aged five years old and below. This program provides comprehensive health services, promotes positive child care behavior, and aims to educate the public, especially mothers, on the importance of Vitamin A in children. Vitamin A plays an important role in vision and bone growth. It also helps the immune system to fight infections.In addition to Vitamin A and iron supplements distributions, Garantisadong Pambata focuses on public health interventions, including skilled attendance during pregnancy, delivery, and immediate post partum; care of newborn breastfeeding and complementary feeding; micronutrient supplementation and deworming; immunization of children – Baccilli, Calmett, and Guerin or BCG, Oral Polio or OPV, Diphtheria, Pertussis and Tetanus or DPT – and mothers; integrated management of sick children; child injury prevention and control; birth spacing; and environmental sanitation.
Carrying the theme “Kids Can’t Wait,’’ the nationwide services of Garantisadong Pambata are made available in all health centers, municipal health offices, barangay health stations, and government hospitals in strategically located areas such as in Mutia Zamboanga del Norte.
Hence, upon arrival at around eight in the morning, we helped the BHW and Ma'am Marilyn prepare the health center. Within few minutes, we started to assist mothers and their children on their respective follow-ups, check ups and immunizations. Most of the children who went for Vitamin A immunization where kindergarteners. We alternately assists in the administration of Vitamin A to children within the age five, while the others assisted in the distribution of iron supplements, vitamin A and deworming medicines to mothers, reminding them on how to take these medicines and supplements properly. Moreover, we also conducted short talk on health promotion to mothers and children regarding proper handwashing, allowing some time to get to know the people and their health concerns. The program ended at around 11 in the morning.

In our quest for optimum health, let's help bring the opportunity of good health one step closer to the people.~

The Buena Suerte Nutrition Situation

2011-04-30T04:08:00.000-07:00

The Buena Suerte
Nutrition Situation

Nutrition is recognized as a basic human right and vital to the survival, growth and development of children. However, malnutrition continues to be a major international health problem that claims millions of lives.

In the Philippines, the malnutrition situation has not substantially improved in the last 15 years. Child malnutrition rate, for one, has remained at the 30 per cent level for over a decade especially in rural areas in the country.

In Buena Suerte, the monthly nutrition monitoring of children led by Mrs. Marilyn Antero, the barangay midwife, revealed that as of March 2011, there are 30 underweights/severely underweights out of the 130 children that were assessed. Currently, the barangay ranks among the top 3 barangays with High Risk on Malnutrition not just among 0-71 months old but among school children as well. Thus, strategic interventions had been implemented to address this serious problem.

reflections beneath the foliage of pine trees with a cup of coffee in my hand

2011-04-29T00:54:00.000-07:00

Reflections beneath the

foliage of pine trees

with a cup of coffee

in my hand.

        Brgy. Buena Suerte is truly a blessed land. Located near the top of the Malindang mountain range, it is inhabited by a loving community of bisaya and subanen. It is richly nourished by 2 rivers namely galay and malindang, from which the barangay is able to cultivate fine agriculture, from food production, herbal plants, livestock and even to a blossoming flower business in the commercial industry. The year-round cool breeze is refreshing and the sunshine scorches not the skin. Best of all, the place has a cool climate. Temperature ranges from maybe 18-25’ Celsius. If your lucky, you might experience a lower temperature; speak of fogs on daylight and an eventual zero visibility status.

      We were dispatched in this area as student doctors to the barangay for a number of noble aims, few of which are: to improve the poor health condition of the residents, to increase them in their understanding of preventive and curative measures regarding their causes of morbidity and mortality, educate them on false beliefs, practices and traditions towards health care, strengthen their “pakikipag kapwa-tao” and a whole lot more. So much to mention but most of all we envision a healthy community for them, with them and by them; a process to which the community is empowered to become self-reliant, equipped with knowledge, nurtured with self-esteem, confidence and compassionate amongst fellow men so that we may mold effective leaders and responsible individuals for their families, their community and for the country in general.

       Based on our survey last April 2010, we have diagnosed the community as an unhealthy barangay. Currently we have waged war against the identified barangay problems with the community’s aid. Our Community Health Plan was formulated for this purpose. In God’s own time, the group aims to achieve its objective and be able to have instilled change for the welfare of the community and an overall healthy and quality life for its residents.

Sheila and Ann conducting Health Care Lessons to Mothers.

Weighing of children 5 years old and below.
In compliance to the groups strategies against malnutrition,
children are regularly assessed for signs of poor nutritional status.

Kriska interacting with the hippies of the town.

Indeed what ambitious ideals they are, but with hardworking and God-fearing mates, far-fetched is such a notion. As I sit in the front porch of this house we live in. I reflect on my “kins”. We came here for a reason, and we will transform to reality our ambitions; for we all share a mutual feeling – that is, sincere community service.

A duty we have vowed to God and to man. It is difficult. But what weighs heavily is a heart strengthened by pure intentions, undaunted and undeterred; this commitment we have laid our soul unto.

__________________________________________________________________________________

Here are a few pictures for the reader's visualization. ;)

A successful Healthy Child, Healthy Community Seminar.

Health Teaching to a patient diagnosed with Hyperacidity

A garden plot constructed by the residents themselves.

Ann and Tasnim headed to the residence of a BHW.

Meeting up with school officials.

Helping out this child who got cut by a bolo.

Vitamin C out for the children of Buena Suerte

Happily distributing alloted vitamins for the children

"Yeepee, I'm having my BP taken." c;

Kalingawan sa Buena Suerte 2011

2011-04-28T02:16:00.000-07:00

A Zimbabwe Proverb marks that “If you can walk you can dance. If you can talk you can sing.” –making all things possible for humans to embrace music to his own soul.

In connection with our Healthy Lifestyle Program, we specifically targeted our youth population through the efforts our Local Barangay Officials. For a start, we launch this program to give empowerment to our youth and to make them active partners towards a healthy community.

The program launched on April 09, 2011, Saturday was graced by our Local Barangay Officials, medical students, people from the AFP and the constituents of the barangay. The objective of the program was to provide these youth an avenue to direct their interest to more worthwhile activities such as music, sports, and arts. This is also a creative way to develop their potentials and camaraderie. As such this would inhibit them to indulge in alcoholism, smoking, gambling, drugs and other vices that are proven to contribute to juvenile problems in the locality.

As the audience got hyped and the music upbeat, presenting the event's hosts: Mr. Jake Dapiton and Ms Kriska Solares! It was a fun experience to have these two, the tandem has chemistry!

The 2-hour program was highlighted by the “Dance Contest” participated by our youth from different puroks. It was enormous break from school activities and for the parents themselves as they proudly watch their children dance. This is however just the beginning as there would be more to come as we open other categories of the program. In between these activities would be lectures with parental and peer counseling. The program is also open for comments and suggestions from the people in the barangay.

Gleeful and proud as they strut their unique straw dresses, these girls won 2nd Place in the contest.

The 1st Placers! The "Ang Groupo nga Walay Ngalan" beat all the other contestants dancing their stuff and showcasing talent to the tune of Jay Sean and Nicki Minaj's 2012.

BLOODY DUTY (T.T)

2011-04-28T01:11:00.000-07:00

An old man was rushed to the health center! He got three cuts in his right face and several more gashes in his right hand. No, he was not covered in blood. But that doesn’t matter. It still looked to me like an emergency. The cuts he sustained were deep as hell and inflammation proves to be grave. The man was a little edgy. A glance at his wounds was enticing us to stitch them at once to put an end to his anguish. But, knowing the cuts were way past the 6 hour period, it would not be wise to do so. So what we did was to clean the wound, bandage them, start the man with the right antibiotic and offer him assurance. He left the center no longer edgy.


Tatay here was allegedly attacked by his son-in-law whom apparently came home from a drinking spree. When asked the probable reason as to the stabbing incident, Tatay denied having had previous quarrels or disagreement with the perpetrator saying "I do not recall having had any fight with him, he hurt me for no reason at all" - translated. (Another point for the House of Drink Moderately- ed.)

Tatay ready for his TT :)

This story is a classic in the health center. And more other stories are made from folks who come from different walks of life with different sorts of health problems appearing right before us while on duty.

A pregnant woman visits for her prenatal check up. A mother carries a newborn awaiting vaccination. A worried father arrives with his son who suffers ear pain. A newly circumcised lad comes to have his bandage removed. A lady hurries to tell us her sister has bloody diarrhea. A distressed ‘lola’ brings her asthmatic grandson for a nebulization. A number of school teachers gather to get their medical certificates. And a lot more makes the list a never ending.

Jake on a case of pneumonia with acute gastroenteritis.

Ann Marie exemplifies a compassionate doctor. This 2 wk old baby suffers from fever and cough accompanied by yellow phlegm.

Sheila Aduviso doing a quick history and p.e. This day, teachers from different elementary schools (Poblacion, Pinan, etc) came to the MHU for their regular check-up.

A child having diarrhea for 2 days attended by Hanady Tulawie.

Each story unfolds as we manage each of these patients. As students, we understand the basics of patient management. First we greet them. Then we ask for their complaint. Next, we dig into the history and then we do some PE. after that, we think of what is likely the cause of the problem. And then we turn to Dra. Sampul (hehe -ed) to check the treatment plan we wish to give to the patient. we offer advices before we finally send home the patient. We do these with each patient we see, so it turns out to be a routine. I admit it can be tedious. But that’s just something positive. You see, managing a patient always takes a lot of getting used to. In fact, we still jumble questions in history taking. At the least, however, we see to it that each patient leaves the center no less than happy.
To us, the MHC duty is something to celebrate because they open up grand opportunities for us. It’s not everyday that patients come to you and consent you to take history and do PE with them. One school of thought about education goes “do it to learn it.” So, as early as now, we let our minds and hands come to work the way we should as full-blown doctors. While we are helping them with their health concerns today, they are helping us in our ambition to be great doctors tomorrow.

The Second Wave of Pagkaon Para sa Tanan Program

2011-04-28T00:46:00.000-07:00

The “Pagakaon para sa Tanan Program” is gradually moving its tail to provide a better support on crop and vegetable production. On our 4th visit in the community, we were surprised with the new opportunities brought in by the people themselves.

The 'Pintakase' of Purok 2. During our visit, we intended to conduct a surprise investigation on their assignments. Turned out, our plan backfired. We were the one's surprised with our own surprise.The plot was ready and the residents have toiled the soil and sowed the seeds! ;D

Purok III headed by our Subanen tribe proudly made a good harvest from their communal gardens on which they had petchay, kangkong, bell pepper, camote, papaya and many more. The product of their hard work yielded greater inspiration to continue what they have started and to entice more people to join their advocacy to reduce food scarcity and to boost livelihood opportunities among them. Despite the rainy season, the people still managed to clear their plots and start a new wave of planting. Mrs. Florida Gumiason, BHW and an active member of the program said that proper timing on planting is very essential- especially during a heavy downpour that might erode the soil and inflict damage to the crop. Accordingly they do measures to prepare on these days. They are also certain on what are the suitable crops during this period and they are the only ones to be planted first. All the rest are planted in nursery gardens and wait for the right time to be transferred to their respective plots. These people have been using organic fertilizers through the communal pits they have built which are now of great use for them.

Anyone ready for a real life Facebook AppGame? Come and harvest your crops! Introducing Purok

3's very own Farmville. ;9

The cool climate and well cultivated soil allows a productive vegetation. Many fruits and vegetables grow "mataba". You'd want to pick 'em and cook 'em right that instant!

Ma'am Florida Gumiason, one of the most socially active and participative core group member.

Don't mind us sitting around. Meeting up with the core group members to strengthen our agricultural programs.

These improvements have reached Mr. Crisologo Abello, the Municipal Agriculturist Officer and provided additional seedlings (onion leaves, cucumber, kangkong, petchay seedlings) to be dispensed among the three puroks in the barangay. Updates on the reopening of the “Hi- Green Project” of the Department of Agriculture were also discussed. The Vermiculture Project of the same agency is also very promising and it was said to be open to all interested organizations who can comply with the requirements. A number of people in the barangay were given certificate of training on the said project and are qualified to man the project in the barangay. This project provides a good advantage to our communal gardens as an additional source of organic fertilizer.

Due to insistent demands and a progressing lucrative backyard gardening project, DA had given Kap Guia additional seedlings. Hurrah!

Although the municipality had frequent rain showers, Purok II were also advised to do nursery gardens for the sensitive seedlings. The people were very enthusiastic about the program and wanted to keep track on other methods that they could utilize. The concept of the program is no longer new to these people and their familiarity and to some, expertise will surely make their project feasible for everyone.

The launching of the program to Purok I is still on going, since the Hi- Green Project is located in their area. The merits and benefits of the Hi- Green Project is still under negotiation and will soon be reopened to qualified and interested constituents.

The Core Group Meeting

2011-03-17T02:52:00.000-07:00

The comprehensive health plan serves as a map of the main highways which would direct the people in conquering the frontier towards an empowered community. Its formulation, therefore, necessitates careful consideration of the interplay of multiple factors. Availability of resources, the feasibility of strategies, and even the sustainability of the solutions are as essential as the commitment of those who would spearhead and work on the plan to completion. Thus, the establishment of a core group is an impetus.

Capitalizing on the relationship that the team has with the people, each member were able to identify the informal leaders that exist in the community. Together with the formal leaders of every sector, invitation letters for a core group meeting were sent to these influential people. The team received a very favorable response from everyone. Each sector was represented by an active member if not the key person himself. During the core group meeting, objectives were emphasized. A member of the team was designated to discuss significant survey results and another person was tasked to explain the implications of these results to the health of the people. Likened to a ripple effect, it was stressed that the health of every individual will impact the populace.

The first part of the meeting focused on identifying the problems that they perceive in the community. The leaders were able to come up with a problem tree and identified poverty,-,- as the root causes of their problem. An open forum transpired to discuss all possible solutions, including strategies that the leaders had employed in the past, to address the problems identified. Five committees were then organized to focus on certain problem to address. Each was headed by a member of the core group.

The core group and the team decided that it would be best for the former to head the general assembly of the community to share and discuss with the people all the issues that were talked about during the meeting. The team helped the group in organizing the activities that will be done during the said activity. At the end of the meeting, a comprehensive plan for the General Assembly was formulated. The core group and the team considered this not as the end but only a beginning in conquering borders toward an empowered community.

Communal Plots & Compost Pits

2011-03-17T01:34:00.000-07:00

Two of the recognized community health problems in Barangay Buenasuerte are inadequate food resources and malnutrition. In the quest of responding to these, the community officials and the group came up of projects such as gardening with the communal plots established per purok, and construction of compost pits in each household as a source of organic fertilizers.

Two out of three puroks already started the communal plots, and each household is also constructing each compost pit. Part of the project is to coordinate with the government agencies such DA and DOST for assistance which provided free vegetables seedlings. These seedlings were planted on the communal plots per purok. Purok 2 started making the communal plots and planted the seedlings from the DA after surveying for appropriate location of their communal garden. Upon inspection, Purok 3, Campo Subano, already started planting their crops on our first community rotation using their seedlings from their previous harvest. Hence, luscious green vegetable such as bok choy, kang kong, chili, string beans and many others were seen. They utilized these as their primary food source while others were sold in the market.

On house to house inspection of compost pits, majority of the households already started the construction of the compost pits while others already has one and started using it. These compost pits will be the source of the organic fertilizers of their communal garden. At the same time, this will provide a resolution to improper waste disposal. To sustain these projects, support from the government agencies were established. Further, an inter-purok contest of the most functional and sustained communal garden and cooking contest using the harvested vegetables were launched. Prices are in store for the winners of these contest while these projects are meant to alleviate inadequate food resources and malnutrition through nutritious foods on hand.

2011-03-17T00:11:00.000-07:00

It is during adversity when one can really make a big difference. But making a difference is not about being a big hero. It is simply about leaving the community better going out, than when we came in. -ann alipalbangsa, adzu-som

IDENTIFYING PROBLEMS
Help people become more motivated by guiding them to the source of their own power.

The medical students of ADZU-SOM came to Mutia not only engrossed to know their designated community, but have the goal to be of service them. As they arrive in Barangay Buenasuerte the community feel fortunate knowing that after five years, medical students were once again assigned in their barangay. They will be assigned up to 4th year to help the community seek strategies on how to solve their health problems through formulating Community Health Plan (CHP). This CHP has to be S-M-A-R-T (Simple, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Time-bounded). As they start on this CHP, they will enumerate first what are the community’s problems through their barangay officials and hear some suggestions on how to improve them. From here, the students review, analyze, investigate and research on the strategies on how to find solutions on the problems. It has to be emphasized that they are only present within their 4th year study in the school, thus sustainability of the strategies implemented have to be considered also through the core groups organized.

As soon as survey results were analyzed and community problems were identified by the students, a meeting was called on with the barangay officials and leaders of recognized organizations. It revealed that the problems categorized by the barangay officials are the same with the problems depicted on the survey results. Based on the people, many were mentioned such as smoking, improper garbage disposal, mosquito breeding in purok 3, low income of the residents, less awareness on family planning, unsanitary condition of some of the households, poor nutritional meal composition, unsanitary condition of toilets and poor healthcare services. Discussions on how to solve these drawbacks took place and it was decided that they select the major problems to be addressed based on the primary cause or the root of the problem and on high percentage among the population, and these problems are as follows;

1. acute respiratory infection
It is the leading cause of morbidity in the barangay with the highest percentage of 42.27%. The major causes are non-compliance and inappropriate use of antibiotics, poor awareness among the residents, poor environmental condition by the unconstructed dusty road wherein houses are built along the highway and rampant cigarette smoking. Other factors include poor personal hygiene and improper hand washing.

2. inadequate food supply

In the barangay, majority of the people are farmers of corn and root crops. What they plant in their farm is what they eat. Only a small portion of these people sell their products which make their sources of food very limited to their staple food. The nutritional value they get from these foods is less than the required daily allowance. Most of them can hardly buy fish and meat as source of their protein and resort to eating “bulad” (dried fish).

3. malnutrition

-Causes of malnutrition include inadequate food intake, poor biological utilization of food, poverty, socio-cultural factors and ecological factors. Survey results revealed that 20% of the children below 6 years old are underweight.

4. unsanitary toilet facility

-Survey results revealed an alarming prevalence of unsanitary toilet condition among 69% of total households of the barangay. Although there is a wide presence of water sealed bowls, residents still fail to maintain hygienic state of their toilet facility. Water supply in the barangay is deficient; accessibility is limited thereby greatly compromising sanitation.

5. hypertension

- 4th leading cause of morbidity in the barangay. One known major factor leading to high incidence of this disease is lack of income of residents. This limits their intake of balance and nutritious diet and resorts to eating high sodium food such as dried fish. Another factor is lack of knowledge of what the disease is. Survey results revealed that majority of the subjects are unaware of the disease. Furthermore, they have poor compliance on proper treatment because of inadequate knowledge, income and time.

6. smoking

Survey results revealed that the barangay has around 72.6% smokers from the total population surveyed. It has been universally accepted to be a major health problem as the latest generation of smokers is much younger than ever before, especially in the barangay where there is little awareness on the matter.

Visti to DA, DOST & DOH

2011-03-16T23:26:00.000-07:00

having an informative chit chat with the

Inline with the goal of establishing a healthy community in rural areas, we recognized the importance of bridging the existing gaps of individualization by networking and empowering the community people through their resources and abilities. These resources are crops, vegetables, coconuts to name a few, and their abilities to cultivate these and create products. These prompted the group and the barangay's local government unit to coordinate and make linkages with the Department of Agriculture, Department of Science and Technology and Department of Health in Dipolog City to seek aide and assistance in the implementation of projects using the barangay's resources and manpower.

In our visit to the said Departments, aide such as seedlings for vegetables crops were granted for free. Other assistance in imparting informations on how to make food preservations using the harvested crops on hand, and home products where given. Resource speakers from these agencies where also made available for the future exposure. Thus, coordinating with government agencies and empowering the people warrants sustainability of projects, and imparts a sense of responsibility among people for the common goal of a healthy and productive community.

How Mutia Came To Be

2011-03-16T23:03:00.000-07:00

Historical Background

The municipality of Mutia was known before as sitio Salvacion of Barrio Sianib a part of Dipolog Town (now Dipolog City). Said Barrio Sianib later on become a part of Polanco when the latter was created into a separate municipality. Finally, Salvacion became a barrio when takes as part of Piñan upon the creation of the latter municipality.

Salvacion, which is geographically situated in the hinterlands, was originally inhabited by mountain tribe known as “Timoay”. The strongest and most cohesive clan among the Timoays was headed by Sumambog Basilio. He had a son known for intelligence and was designated as “Gucom” or judge. The “Gucom “ solemnized marriage, settle disputes and led in the merry making especially during fiestas.

The Timoay tribes were the ones who opened the path for early Christian settlers coming all the way from Cebu, Leyte, Negros, Bohol and other provinces from Visayas islands. These settlers had named the place then “Salvacion” as they had high hopes that the virgin lands could delivers themselves from economic hardship.

HISTORY

The name is derivative from Spanish word “Salvacion” meaning save, Salvacion therefore means saver. In the year 1950, prominent citizens made a sovereign decision for the creation of Salvacion into a separate municipality from a mother municipality of Pi1ñan. A committee was formed to affect such movement, viz.:

Felimon A. Torres, Sr. ………………….. Chairman
Saustiano C. Bohol ……………………… Vice-Chairman
Moises Tenorio ………………………….. Secretary
Mauro S. Alvar …………………………… Adviser
Luis Bicoy ………………………………… Member
Leodegario Bicoy ………………………… Member
Conchita Suan ……………………………. Member
Thomas Acbayan …………………………. Member
Dionisio Baquinat ………………………… Member
Gil Empeynado ……………………………. Member
Eustiquio Sales ……………………………. Member
Santiago Sagario ………………………….. Member

The movement materialized upon the passage of resolution by the Municipal Council of Piñan proposing Salvacion as a separate municipality. Before action could have taken on said resolution, the name of municipality was amended to Mutia as affected by the name of the Provincial Board. The reason for the change was to give lasting memory to a man who fought and died in the service of his fellowmen. This man was the late Sgt. Francisco Mutia. At the height of lawless violence and other acts of criminality led by the Torreno brothers in the barrio of Salvacion, Sgt. Mutia with Catsen of the Philippine Constabulary and Police Sgt. Morelos and Civilian Volunteer Francisco Dagatan intensified the campaign of suppression. One day Sgt. Mutia meet bloody encounter with the Torreno Brothers resulting into the dealt of the former and one of the Torreno brothers.

The municipality of Mutia acquired its juridical existence on July 22, 1960, by virtue of Executive Order No. 402 signed by the late President of the Philippines, Carlos P. Garcia. The 26 years of existence of the municipality of Mutia has been nurtured by following executives known for their dedicated industry and integrity:

1960-1963 Filemon A. Torres, Sr. …………. Appointed
1963-1971 Dominador c. Atay …………….. Elected
1971-1980 Celso S. Cayud-ong …………….. Elected
1980-1986 Celso S. Cayud-ong …………….. Re-Elected
1986-present Salustiano C. Bohol …………….. Appointed