7th oblation run:Students called for non-violence and safe 2013 elections

MALOLOS CITY—For the seventh straight year, members of the of the Alpha Phi Omega (APO) fraternity and sorority of the Bulacan State University (BulSU) conducted their oblation run.

Like in the past, they have a theme for the  annual oblation run, and this year, it’s a call for non-violence and clean elections.

“Eto ‘yung way na ine-express naming, ‘yung mga nangyayari sa sitwasyon. Karahasan ay Iwasan para sa malinis na halalan. Kasi nga, malapit na ‘yung eleksiyon sa 2013,” said Marvin Valera, the auxiliary chancellor of the fraternity.

He said that before the annual oblation run, APO officers met and decided on the said theme.

He said, “napag meetingan naming, kasi nakikita ng mga mag-aaral ‘yung napapanood nila sa TV sa mga eleksiyon. Siyempre bata tayo, dapat iwasan natin tumulad sa eleksiyon na nangyayari sa mga matatanda.”

At least 30 Apo members joined the annual oblation run which started in 2005.

The runners were joined by APO members from its other chapters, namely Valenzuela City, Baliuag University, Our Lady of Fatima University, and the Cabnas Garden Mall in this city.

All participants ran naked with a mask to hide their identity.

Like in previous years, the annual run drew thousands of students, many of whom screamed while looking at the participants.

The oblation run is part of the weeklong celebration of the 108^th founding anniversary of the Bulacan Stater University. (Jerica Santos, BulSU-BAJ 3)

End Impunity 2012 images

Dayaw 2012: A Grand Celebration of Indigenous Cultures in Bulacan

Dayaw 2012: A Grand Celebration of Indigenous Cultures in Bulacan

Overview of impunity related incidents in 2012 in Southeast Asia

Overview of impunity related incidents in 2012 in Southeast Asia

Invitation to join silent march

Dear Friends,

This coming Friday, November 23, journalists’ groups and press freedom advocacy organizations will commemorate the third year of the Ampatuan Massacre and second International Day to End Impunity. The groups agreed to hold a dramatic mock funeral procession with 153 coffins bearing the names of slain members of media since 1986. Relatives of massacre victims and media practitioners will carry the coffins from Welcome Rotonda, Quezon City to Mendiola. The objective is to stress the continuing attack against journalists and the prevailing culture of impunity.

The activity however will be more effective and significant if many journalists will help carry the coffins. It will be an effective way of showing our unity in the face of so many challenges facing the Philippine press, among them the death of the Freedom of Information bill and outright endorsement by President Aquino of the extremely restrictive right of reply bill in Congress.

We thus invite you and your staff/employees to join the march. Some media networks and groups have already pledged to carry at least 4 coffins per news organization. The coffin is made of light cardboard material but we are requesting that two persons be assigned to carry it.

Assembly time at Welcome Rotonda is 3:00 pm. Please refer to the attached draft program for details.

Kindly assign a point person with whom we can coordinate details of the November 23 procession. The “pallbearers” are requested to be at the Welcome Rotonda (near KFC) by 2:30 PM for briefing. Please send contact details to the undersigned by 5pm today. We also request everyone joining the event to wear black.

Thank you for joining us in this campaign.

Mabuhay ang Pilipinong mamamahayag.

For the convenors:

PHILIPPINE CENTER FOR INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM (PCIJ)

NATIONAL UNION OF JOURNALISTS OF THE PHILIPPINES (PPI)

PHILIPPINE PRESS INSTITUTE (PPI)

CENTER FOR COMMUNITY JOURNALISM AND DEVELOPMENT (CCJD)

FREEDOM FUND FOR FILIPINO JOURNALISTS (FFFJ)

CENTER FOR MEDIA FREEDOM AND RESPONSIBILITY (CMFR)

Weng Paraan

NUJP Secretary-General

Bulacan fetes outstanding Cooperative Dev’t Councils

CITY OF MALOLOS- The Provincial Government of Bulacan through its Provincial Cooperative and Economic Development Office (PCEDO) recently awarded the 2012 Natatanging City/Municipal Cooperative Development Councils  at The Pavilion, Hiyas ng Bulacan Convention Center in this city recently.

Governor Wilhelmino M. Sy-Alvarado said the award aims to recognize the efforts and vital contribution of cooperatives in Bulacan’s development.

“Bukod sa mga fixed projects ng PCEDO, bumuo o gumawa rin ng iba pang proyekto ang mga awardees na ito na siyang lalong nagpalawak sa serbisyo sa mga miyembro nito,” PCEDO head Jovito Saguinsin said.

The first prize was awarded to Marilao Cooperative Development Council, second prize to Doña Remedios Trinidad Cooperative Development Council, San Jose del Monte City Cooperative Development Council got the third prize and Malolos Cooperative Development Council for the fourth prize.

Aside from cash prize, the winners also received certificate of recognition while the non-winners were given certificate of appreciation.

Also part of the event is the Cooperative Fellowship, a culminating activity of the Cooperative and Enterprise Month in Bulacan, wherein approximately 500 Bulakenyo cooperative officers and members gathered at The Pavilion.

Last October, the province joined the nation in celebrating the National Cooperative Month wherein a number of trainings and activities were given to the officials and members of cooperatives in Bulacan.

Cooperative Month is being celebrated every October of the year by the virtue of Proclamation No. 493 dated October 27, 2003. ###

Bulacan, Bataan, and Zambales remain red tide-free

By Joelyn G. Baluyut

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga, Nov 16 (PIA) -- Bulacan, Zambales, and

Bataan provinces are still free from paralytic shellfish poison or most commonly known as red tide.

“The coastal waters of Bulacan in Manila Bay; Masinloc Bay in Zambales; and coastal waters of Mariveles, Limay, Orion, Pilar, Balanga, Orani, Abucay, and Samal in Bataan remain free of the toxic red tide,” the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Shellfish Bulletin dated November 8 reported.

BFAR said shellfish from the mentioned areas can still be gathered, harvested, and sold in markets and are safe for human consumption.

Meanwhile, shellfish collected at Dumanquillas Bay in Zamboanga del Sur, and Murcielagos Bay in Zamboanga del Norte and Misamis Occidental are still positive for paralytic shellfish poison that is beyond the regulatory limit.

All types of shellfish and Acetes ap or alamang from the areas mentioned are not safe for human consumption, BFAR said.

“Fish, squids, shrimps, and crabs are safe for human consumption provided these are fresh and washed thoroughly and internal organs such as gills and intestines are removed before cooking,” BFAR added.(CLJD/JGB-PIA3)