A seminar and assessment on job applications for Canada will be conducted by the Canadian Immigration Consultancy and the Canadian-based Philippine Services Inc, on Aug. 4 from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Grand Regal Hotel, in Bacolod City, a press release from event organizers said.

The CIC and the PSI have entered into an agreement to facilitate qualified workers go, work and live in Canada.

It would take years to get an immigrant visa to Canada, but with this new PSI arrangement, it will be shorter through a fast-tracked processing.

Employers in Canada are in dire need of qualified workers, including skilled Filipinos who are known for their industriousness and competence, the press release said.

Big discounts awaits on-the-spot signees in the Bacolod seminar and assessment, and interested parties may call Tel. Nos. (034)-7087171, (034)-4441099, or (0910) 8224091, for reservations and inquiries, the press release added.*

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IN BACOLOD
Visayan artists join Sept.
7 Great Performance series

After the triumphant Bacolod City debuts recently of Romanian violinist Alexandru Tomescu and Russian pianist Sergey Kuznetsov, the Great Performance Series in Negros resumes Sept. 7, at 7 p.m. at the L'Fisher Hotel Ballroom.

The concert will feature distinguished Visayan artists led by baritone Noel Azcona, soprano Nenen Espina and pianist Mary Anne Espina as collaborating pianist, a press release from event organizers said.

Azcona has sung the Pearl Fisher duet with world-acclaimed Filipino tenor Otoniel Gonzaga, and has shared the stage with Lea Salonga in the unforgettable Best of the Philippines Concert Gala with the Philippine Philharmonic early last year. He will take the place of another distinguished baritone Andrew Fernando, whose recital was reset for next year.

A star soloist of the UST Singers and a featured soloist of the Las Piñas International Bamboo Organ Festival, Azcona made his Manila operatic debut in the title role of Fr. Manuel Maramba's "Lord Takayama Ukun" to unanimous critical acclaim, the press release said.

He will team up with soprano Nenen Espina who was last heard at the CCP in Tchaikovsky's Eugene Onegin.

Espina received rave reviews for her portrayal of Suzuki in the last CCP production of Madame Butterfly with world-famous Japanese soprano Yoko Watanabe in the title role. She has essayed other operatic roles, namely, Dorabella (Mozart's Cossi fan tutti), Marcellina (Bizet's Carmen) and Santuzza (Mascagni's Cavalleria Rusticana), among others, the press release said.

A past winner of the National Music Competition for Young Artists, Espina obtained her professional diploma at the Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts under full scholarship, it added.

Both Azcona and Espina were in the acclaimed cast of Fr. Manuel Maramba's opera, "Lord Takayama Ukon" and in the equally acclaimed production of Eugene Onegin at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, the press release said.

Considered as one of the country's leading pianist and assisting artists, pianist Mary Anne Espina has accompanied leading international artists, among them Romanian violinist Alexandru Tomescu, Russian violinist Anastacia Chebotareva, American soprano Joan Gibbons, German violinist Angelo Bard and American cellist Stephen Framil, among others.

The Bacolod concert is for the benefit of the Negros Cultural Foundation Inc. Those interested in the concert may call Tel. Nos. (034) 468-0286, (02) 9007023, (02) 4972971 or cell 09065104270, 0917-8058501, for details, the press release added.*

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Kabankalan DepEd
holds cultural tilt

The Department of Education in Kabankalan City held a cultural contest recently to highlight the opening day of the 10th Charter Day celebration of the city and the 9th founding anniversary of the DepEd division, a press release from the city said.

Contests were on composo, sayawit and creative native dance and participated in by teachers from the five districts and one secondary in the city.

Vice Mayor Delia Anacan gave the inspirational message to the teachers led by the division superintendent Rizalino Tortosa.

Declared first place in composo was Ronilo Lirazan of District 3, followed by Romeo Padrigo of the secondary level, and third place was Joel Pacheo (District V).

In Sayawit, first to third places were District 2, secondary, and Kabankalan 3, respectively while in creative folkdance, first place was District 5, followed by District 2 and secondary for the second and third places, the press release added.*

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