Year 2012

WARNER BROS.’ DIRECTOR, PRODUCER VISIT BFP CHIEF 

Bureau of Fire Protection officer-in-charge F/Chief Supt. Ruben F. Bearis, Jr. (center) welcomed Warner Bros. Director Matthew Cullen and Producer Rob Newman during their courtesy call to the fire bureau chief recently at the office of the fire chief, BFP National Headquarters, Agham, Quezon City.
                                      WINSTON J. NAVAREZ,
                         photo by JOEREN MACULADA

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LAMBALOS! ... lambing at hambalos!

     ni: Winston Jay

Col. Daus' General Alarm Band

"ROCKS AWAY ARMM’s FIRE MENACE"

SEASONED fire officer, and Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Bureau of Fire Protection Regional Director, F/Sr. Supt. Warlito P. Daus, as early as last November, has directed his fire personnel force to carry out necessary plans, programs and execution of the annual BFP Oplan Iwas/Ingat Paputok campaign region-wide.

This safety awareness fire prevention drive is in line with the upcoming Christmas & New Year season where the community is expected to use traditional firecrackers and other pyrotechnics in celebrating these events.

We are no stranger to the fact that firecrackers, no matter how “small or big” it is, top the list as injury-maker and causes of fire during the Christmas’ & New Year’s Eve.

This is why Col. Daus, who knows the vital impact of “prevention is better than cure” motto, has lined-up numerous fire-pyrotechnic safety and prevention campaign all throughout the region. By means of brochures, posters, social-print-broadcast media, motorcade and one of his trademark – musical concerts, the regional director effectively penetrates the community to inform them of the importance of celebrating the season without inflicting harm to self and others, and likewise, facing a new year fire-free!

Daus also ordered his men and women firefighters to conduct safety inspection and monitoring on establishments selling firecrackers and pyrotechnics, to visit densely populated areas in ARMM and to ensure that firetruck and emergency aides are ready stand-by on areas with scheduled fireworks display.

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As a frustrated singer, (just kidding), music enthusiastst, I mean, realizing the power of music in drawing crowd attention, Col. Daus architectured a band composed of purely talented musical fire personnel and named them “The General Alarm Band”.

Daus occasionally plays as the band lead vocalists as they perform free concerts in various municipalities and cities throughout ARMM. Playing variety LIVE music, may it be standard, pop, oldies, reggae, rock, ballad, folk, country, OPM, and even dance or disco – audiences from all walks of life couldn’t help it but be mesmerized and captivated by the firefighter band.

During every intermission, Col. Daus will announce to the public the importance of a fire-free society as well as the community’s active participation to achieve one. Likewise, during lively song numbers played by the band, BFP official Mascot, Berong Bumbero, cheerfully dance with the crowd as fire personnel distributes brochures and flyers bearing fire safety tips to the public. This is the concert’s main event.

Col. Daus believed that you have to go out of the box if you really want your programs to be more effective.

“We cannot get the attention of the community without doing some “gimmickry”. People value their time and you need to be creative if you want to get their attention. Music plays a big, big thing here. With the inclination to music that God has given me, the General Alarm Band was born. And, I’m happy that it continuously make us ARMM firefighters sing and dance away the menace of fire here in our jurisdiction,” he said.

...hmmnn...very well said, Col. Daus...but I wonder WHY the SAME firemen-combo group here in Manila wouldn't follow the footsteps of GAB band?