www.sanesteban.com.ph founder and former webmaster Geoffrey Cardenas Vergara made the first design our website landing page in the first two years of existence. Due to the hectic schedules at his work and family in USA he decided to relinquish the chairmanship to Susan Abad Europa. Upon acknowledging the new task in the year 2002, Susan solicited the expertise of Melo Sabugo to re-construct the front page of the web. The color motif then was blue. When Melo migrated to US, Mrs. Europa again decided that she needed assistance from another expert regarding web publishing. She appointed Edison Cala as her co-webmaster, who made the third makeover in the landing page. His design was to insert some scenery to attract viewers. Edison also looked for greener pasture abroad and now he is presently working in a computer company in Brunei.

In connection with the forthcoming 7th Founding Anniversary of this website I suggested to our webmaster that a new theme should be done to enhance the appearance of our web front page. Since I was given a go signal for the changes, I recommended the services of Michael Cala and was later appointed by our webmaster as her another co-webmaster.

The new concept of the design was to add music, more scenery and arrange different sections so that the reader can easily locate their interest while surfing the website. Regular columns such as Newsbits and Afterthoughts were retained. The late Dr, Ben’s In My Inbox will be revived by Michael and an addition of new segment Civil Registry was created and to be updated by a fresh recruit, Ms. Corazon Ramirez. She will inform the viewer notices of deaths, births and marriages in our town.

In behalf of our webmaster, I would like to inform those who submitted inputs in Our Kaillian’s Mobile Phone Directory, Addresses and Directories to update us with the present or new numbers, email address or addresses. Also, in the different organizations here and abroad, please supply us with a new set of officers. In the mean time, we will upload the former list in the former set-up until we received your updates.

Former Vice-Governor Deogracias Victor DV Savellano won the gubernatorial race against broadcaster Ramon “Rambo” Rafanan in the recently concluded May 14 National Elections. His running-mate Jeremias ‘Jerry’ Singson, brother of out-going Ilocos Sur Governor Luis ‘Chavit’ Singson, toppled Atty. Tillie Cordero of Narvacan for the vice-governor.

2nd district of Ilocos Sur Representative Eric D. Singson was re-elected for his third and final term as Congressman. Sangguniang Panlalawigan Members (SPM) for the 2nd district are as follows; Zuriel Zaragoza of Narvacan, Robert Tudayan of Candon City, Cherrie Geronilla of Salcedo, Jose ‘Pepito’Bonoan of Tagudin and Peter Manzano also of Tagudin.

Chavit’s son Ronald Singson is the newly elected 1st District of Ilocos Sur Represantative to Congress replacing Salacnib Baterina who graduated as three term Congressman. The district SPMs are the following; Ismael Baterina of Sto. Domingo, Ronnie Rapanut of Sta. Catalina, Chuchi Purizima of San Ildefonso, Orlino Tesoro of Sto. Domingo and Gerry Lahoz of Vigan City.

Elected Municipal Mayors with the corresponding towns:
Alilem - Onofre B. Bistoyong
Banayoyo - Severino P. Galanga
Bantay - Samuel C. Parilla
Burgos - Nathaniel D. Escobar
Cabugao - Dioceasar S. Suero
Candon City - Allen G. Singson
Caoayan - Mario R. Tugade
Cervantes - Benjamin M. Maggay
Galimuyod - Jessie B. Balingsat
Gregorio del Pilar - Gilbert Ciriaco
Lidlidda - Jesus M. Sagay
Magsingal - Arlene A. Favis
Nagbukel - Timoteo M. Cabrera
Narvacan - Edgardo D. Zaragoza
Quirino - Clifford A. Patil-ao
Salcedo - Leonofre G. Gironella
San Emilio - Lorenzo G. Bragado, Jr
San Esteban - Chester A. Elaydo
San Ildefonso - Christian Daniel A. Purisima
San Juan - Benjamin V. Sarmiento
San Vicente - Jose C. Tabanda III
Santa - Jeremy Jesus Bueno III
Sta. Catalina - Carlos R. Asuncion
Sta. Cruz - Virgilio J. Valle
Sta. Lucia - Ferdinand F. Hernaez
Sta. Maria - Thelma S. Florendo
Santiago - Josefino E. Miranda
Sto. Domingo - Floro T. Tadena
Sigay - Erlinda D. Gaerlan
Sinait - Marlon B. Ines
Sugpon - Guillermo S. Amoyen
Suyo - Elpidio D. Bistoyong
Tagudin - Roque S. Verzosa, Jr.
Vigan City - Eva Marie S. Medina

On the opening of classes last June 4, 2007, untoward incident took place at the school grounds of the San Esteban Academy (SEA). The school principal SBM Solomon V. Benitez and other teachers were prevented entering the school premises. The school gates were padlocked and the students were advised to return after a week for further developments of the situation regarding the administration of the school.

According to the persons manning the gates of the school, the principal and other cohorts are facing court charges filed by the Mrs. Josefina Estrala Pasion, co-owner of the school. According to her legal counsel accompanied by two armed security personnel there is already an outstanding court desicion to implement a restraining order against SBM Benitez, Ms. Juvelyn Ordonez Mr. Elizarde Niduaza and Mrs. Mary Ann Apelin on the issue of insubordination, immorality and falsification of public documents.

As of press time, the SEA has two factions, the old SEA which is renamed as SEA Inc. remains in Villa Quirino while the other school is holding classes temporarily at SBM Benitez and Miss Essie Ea residence in barangay San Rafael. Until now no actions yet were handed down by the Department of Education or any agencies which handles the conflict between the administration of the two schools.

San Pablo Resident Shot to Death

On or about 5:35 PM of June 26, 2007, a shooting incident happened in barangay San Pablo which led to the death of certain Franvelle E. Clores of this barangay. According police investigator Police Officer 1 (PO1) Arnold Garces Calzado the victim was shot to death by Justine G. Ebojo and Abraham ‘Abe” Ebojo with the aid of Armando Esquivel and a certain Atong Sigua, all resident of the same barangay.

According to the police blotter, the suspects allegedly arrived at the vicinity of the crime scene aboard Starex van and waited for almost an hour across the street before going near the victim’s house. The suspects purportedly looking for the victim’s father, Francisco Clores, and was approached and confronted by the mother of the victim, Violeta Clores. While having conversation with the suspects, the victim arrived on board a motorcycle. After parking his bike inside their premise, the victim went near them but without apparent reason he was shot several times at close range by 19 years old Justine with the use of M16 Baby Armalite and also allegedly shot by Abraham by a 45 caliber pistol.

After the incident the suspects speed away aboard a Starex van going to south direction bringing with them the firearms used. Recovered from the crime scene were the following; 3 spent shell of cal. 5.56, one spent shell for cal.45 and one deformed slug of cal.45.

Last June 4, 2007, 1,584 enrollees from both elementary and secondary attended their first day of classes in the different schools in our town. For the elementary level the enrolment is 994 while the secondary level has 590.

According to the officer-in-charge (OIC) District Supervisor of San Esteban-Burgos district Mrs. Josephine C. Dumlao, the first day of classes of the grade schools went smoothly and orderly due earlier acceptance of enrollees prior to the opening of classes.

Mrs. Dharwine E. Almazan, SE South Central School Principal I disclosed that her school accepted 268 enrollees. Principal I Mr. Andres P. Espejo of SE North Central School announced his school has 250 pupils on this school year 2007-08. Ansad Elementary School (AES) Principal Mrs. Josephine C. Castro said that AES has 244 enrollees and lastly the Apatot Community School Head Teacher Mrs. Araceli O. Apolonio divulged that the school from western coastal area has 232 pupils.