Bansalan Barbeque Avenue

Bansalan Barbeque Avenue was formally opened last Saturday , April 18, 2009. The project was financed by Pepsi Cola Philippines in coordination with the Local Government Unit of Bansalan Davao Davao del Sur. Pepsi Cola had invested P456,000.00 for the construction of the stalls and the LGU had allocated P250,000.00 for the walling of the foundation. This newest attraction in Bansalan is the first Pepsi Cola financed Barbeque Avenue in Mindanao.

Bansalan Barbeque Avenue is located alongside of Miral River Bridge, fronting Gulayan ng Bayan. Barbeque vendors who used to do business at the center of the public market were given clean and descent stalls in the new business site. Pepsi Cola will soon install a wide television screen to attract more customers. During the opening, hundreds of Bansaleños and visitors from the neighboring municipalities were excited to enjoy the taste of the so-called "barbeque sa Miral". The Honorable Mayor Edwin G. Reyes had graced the occasion together with the executives from Pepsi Cola Philippines.

The establishment of Bansalan Barbeque Avenue had upgraded the image of Bansalan's business and food industry. The good ambience captivates the attention of the customers to spend the night alongside of the the Miral River. Its economic impact will surely contribute to the development of Bansalan which was proclaimed by the Deparment of Finance as being upgraded from second class municipality to a First Class Municipality several months ago.

Palm Sunday..."Bendita sa Lukay"

Devoted Catholics in Bansalan had joined the Palm Sunday Celebration yesterday, April 5, 2009. People were bringing palms and cococut leaves to be sprinkled and blessed with holy water as a sign of welcoming and accepting Jesus as the King and Messiah. In the Filipino culture, cathlolics used coconut leaves formed into small crosses as the most common shape to be blessed during Palm Sunday rite. These leaves are commonly placed in the altar and in the doors of the houses, offices and even in commercial establishments.

According to the Gospels, before entering Jerusalem, Jesus was staying at Bethany and Bethphage, and the Gospel of John adds that he had dinner with Lazarus, and his sisters Mary and Martha. While there, Jesus is described by the Synoptic Gospels as sending two unnamed disciples to the village over against them, in order to retrieve a donkey that had been tied up but never been ridden, and to say, if questioned, that the donkey was needed by the Lord but would be returned in a short period of time. Jesus then rode the donkey into Jerusalem, with the Synoptics adding that the disciples had first put their cloaks on it, so as to make it more comfortable. The Gospels go on to describe how Jesus rode into Jerusalem, and how the people there lay down their cloaks in front of him, and also lay down small branches of trees. The people are also described as singing part of Psalm 118 - ...Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father, David. ... (Psalms 118:25-26).

Rev Fr. Diomedes “Bobong” Templa , DCD, the parish priest of Immaculate Conception Parish Bansalan, had officiated the Sunday rite which started infront of the parish convent and was followed by the celebration of the Holy Eucharist. Bansaleños continued to pray for peace while waving their palms and coconut leaves sprinkled with holy water. Palm Sunday is also called “Bendita sa Lukay” . It is the Sunday wherein the gospel of the Passion of Christ is read by way of dramatizing the suffering, death and resurrection of our Lord.