Your VOICES.

Republic of the Philippines
Cagayan de Oro
City Tourism and Cultural Affairs Office

PRESS STATEMENT dated August 13, 2007
This clarification is issued to clear up the following statements written by one Ma. Cecilia L. Rodriguez of Cagayan de Oro City in the Philippine Daily Inquirer entitled “Cagayan de Oro’s Lost Treasure”; page 17; August 12, 2007 issue.

——————————————————–

What Ms. Rodriguez wrote in the Inquirer:
“A former National Museum staff and Emano’s appointee in the city tourism office named Wilson Cabaluna… “ (first sentence, paragraph 20 of the article)

The Truth:
Mr. Wilson Cabaluna has never been a staff of the National Museum. In 2004, he was temporarily detailed to the City Historical and Cultural Commission to assist the archaeology teams from the University of the Philippines and the National Museum in their work at the Huluga site. This is per Memorandum Number 1116-2004, issued by then City Mayor Vicente Y. Emano in October 28, 2004.

Mr. Cabaluna is not an Emano appointee. When he joined the local government in 1981, he was appointed a casual employee by then City Mayor Aquilino Q. Pimentel, Jr. When he was appointed permanent employee in the City Tourism and Cultural Affairs Office in 1995, the appointing officer was then City Mayor Pablo P. Magtajas.

What Ms. Rodriguez wrote in the Inquirer:
“Cabaluna has since transferred residence and could not be located.”
(fifth sentence, paragraph 20)

The Truth:
Mr. Cabaluna has not transferred residence. He can also be easily located in his station of work.

What Ms. Rodriguez wrote in the Inquirer:
“The original caves are now part of Lawndale Spring resort …” (third sentence, paragraph 23)

The Truth:
The Huluga Caves have never been in the resort. Also, there is no cave in this newly-redeveloped Kagay-an Resort.

———————————————————

This is to clarify that Mr. Wilson Ebonia Cabaluna, 50 years old and married, has been a permanent employee as Metro Aide 1 of the City Tourism and Cultural Affairs Office of the local government of Cagayan de Oro City since 1996. He first started in 1981 as a casual employee of the City Engineer’s Office assigned to the Lawndale Spring Resort in Sitio Taguanao, Barangay Indahag, this city. From 1982-1991, he was a casual employee in the City Tourism & Cultural Affairs Office. From 1992-1994, he was a temporary employee of the same office. In 1995, he was appointed a permanent staff of the office.

Mr. Cabaluna is also a long time resident of Taguanao. In the 1950s, his father brought Wilson and the rest of the family to settle in Indahag as the elder Cabaluna was then a cowboy of the Garciano Neri and Pacifico Bual families who operated a pastureland in that place.

To date, Mr. Cabaluna lives in Taguanao. Also, he is still employed with the city government.

Further, the Huluga Caves have never been part of the Lawndale Spring Resort, now Kagay-an Resort. The caves are approximately 1.5 kilometers from the place. There is also no cave in this community resort.

———————————————————-
IMMA RAE D GATUSLAO
Officer-In-Charge
City Tourism & Cultural Affairs Office
Basement, Barangay Tourism Hall, City Hall compound
Telephone Number: 857-3164