The seven kilometers stretch of ebony beach at barangay Baybay is one of the finest assets of the City of Roxas. When the Mayor noticed its potential, he allowed consigners to occupy the entire beachfront as long as the they sold seafood at low prices, and cleaned up all their areas upon closing. this area which is the favorite haunt of domestic and foreign tourist alike because of its succulent and fresh seafood became known as the Roxas City Seafood Plaza or Talabahan. Soon, the concessionaires, will not only have the convenience of more stable and more aesthetically appealing stalls but also a steady water supply, as well as other facilities needed in their day to day operations. The general public will also have permanent umbrellas in which to spend their beach holidays and wide tiled parks for children. Public facilities such as toilets and showers will also be installed in the area. In the evening, the place will glow with mercury lamps - but not before everyone is able to witness the breathtaking sunset at Baybay Beach, Roxas City.

Built in 1814 in order to repel the invading Moors and Portuguese colonizers. These half-torn structures, 7 feet squares, 10 feet high, are vivid souls of the past. Before they were destroyed, they were twice their present height. These towers are made of black pebbles, and are gradually eroding. One tower is on top of the hill at Sitio Nipa, Culasi and the other one is at Brgy. Dumolog.

This edifice is the venue where locally made products are displayed. It is located at the foot of the Capiz Bridge and is in the vicinity of the Rizal Monument and the Capiz Provincial Capitol. It occupies 700 square meters of a city government lot.

The initiative to construct this edifice was spearheaded by the city government and the Dept. of Trade and Industry. Construction began in 1997 and was completed in the same year. The Capiz Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Inc., was designated as the caretaker of the place and was tasked to oversee the local products put up for display. Local products like preserved foods and delicacies, handicrafts like shellcraft and furniture made from rail ties can be seen at the place.

In the garden of the venue which occupies almost two thirds of the property, ornamental plants, orchids, fruits tree seedlings and other local plants are housed. This area is also the place where plant exhibits are held several times a year.

The Tourism Promotion and Development Office of the city government moved to this place last December 6, 2003 in order that it could cater more to the needs of the people of Roxas City and the domestic and foreign visitors who continue to frequent the city. The inauguration and blessing of the edifice was graced by Mrs. Judy Araneta Roxas, Senator John Osmeña and Representaive Imee Marcos-Manotoc who came to attend the Sinadya sa Halaran celebrations. The display center was renamed Balay Kapisnon. As expected, the place has become a must see for visitors who come to Roxas City.

In 1910, President Pastor Alcazar, third President of the town of Capiz (1908-1912), constructed a water tank near the “Municipio” to provide water to the Kapisnon during the dry months. Water flowed from the roof of the two-storey municipal building to the tank.

The “Municipio” was destroyed during World War II, but the water tank which was 11.5 meters in diameter, 6.10 meters in height and with walls 11 inches thick was spared.

After the war, offices were built around the tank completely hiding it from view with only a water spout visible. In 1993, the offices were demolished and for the first time in three decades, the water tank could be seen. The young people, who were not aware of the existing structure, had to be told that originally, it was a water tank.

The old water tank looks quite imposing, like a lady, grown serene, yet gracious and to demolish it would be like cutting the umbilical cord from the past.

However, that water tank had outlived its usefulness because Roxas City now had a modern water system, a legacy from the late Congressman Gerardo “Dinggoy” Roxas, Jr.

The City Government with a group of culture buffs brain-stormed on what to do with the structure and the idea of converting it to a museum was born. Thus, the Roxas City Museum, Ang Panublion, became a reality with Mrs. Ofelia Rendon as its curator.

Ang Panublion, in its initial exhibit, showcased the Kapisnon: how they lived, how they prayed, how they danced, what they ate, what they wore (gowns, jewelry, etc., and how they spent their time.

The birthplace of Pres. Manuel A. Roxas. First President of the Philippines Republic and Roxas City’s most illustrious son in whose honor the city got its name. The original house still stands at its original site at corner Rizal-Zamora Streets, a few minutes walk from the city hall and the city plaza.

Ms. Josephine Celoso Elvas, a 21 year old nursing graduate of Filamer Christian College, and Mr. Garry Jay Avelino Delfin of Panitan, Capiz tops the November 2008 Nursing Licensure Examination. Ms. Elvas is the daughter of Constancio Elvas and Juana Celoso of Brgy. Daga, Panay Capiz. While Mr. Delfin is a graduate of Iloilo Doctors College. Both with a rating of 86.80%, Josephine and Garry where ranked as Top 8 on the Nursing Licensure

Examination given last November 29-30, 2008.

Professional Regulatory Commission has announced at least 39,455 or 44.51% out of 88,649 examinees that took the November 2008 Nursing Board have passed. Jovie Ann Alawas Decoyna of Baguio Central University topped the board, with 89 percent.

Josephine took her Bachelor

of Science in Nursing at Filamer Christian College (FCC) in Roxas City last March 2008 where in she had been an Academic Awardee from SY 2004-2006 and Rank 7 out of 370 graduates of the college in SY 2007-2008 . She finished her secondary education at Capiz National High School and her elementary education at Loctugan Elementary School.

According to Ms. El

vas, her secrets on passing the Nursing Board Exam are composed of 3P’s: Patience, Perseverance and Prayers. With almost 5 months of review and preparation for the Nursing Board Exam at RGO Review Center in FCC, Jos

ephine was able to manage her time, seriously focused on her review and avoid unnecessary activities. With these, prior to the NLE she also top the Pre-Board Exam in Region VI conducted by RGO Review Center to their reviewers. Her advice to nursing graduates who are about to take the exam in order to pass is to be persistent in their study and give honor and glory to God through prayers. She spent 3 hours a day for study/review.

Garry Jay Avelino Delfin is 27 year old, a native of Poblacion, Panitan, Capiz. The son of Eliseo Diestro Delfin and Sylvia Avelino Defin. His grandf

ather is the late Judge Braolio Avelino. He finished his Elementary and Secondary Education at Filamer Christian College (Batch 1998) as an honor student.

Garry enrolled Bachelor of Science in Computer Science at AMA University-Iloilo Branch and graduated last December 2002 as Cum Laude and receive the Student Leadership Award. He worked as a College Instructor for 3 years at his alma mater and then decided to pursue his nursing career by enrolling at Iloilo Doctors College.

He graduated his Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Iloilo Doctors College last April 2008, as Cum Laude. In his review at Merge Review Center (Iloilo Branch), he was recognized as Top 1 in the General Performance and 1st Place in Simulated NLE in the whole Region 6.

Undying love and devotion to his field of choice, total and undivided attention to studies, hard-edged discipline and work ethics; prayers and a strong desire to make his parents and family proud are among his secrets of achieving success in his life.

His aspiration as an educator and professional nurse is to contribute to the improvement of the nursing profession though the education of new and future nurses.

-www.capiznon.wordpress.com