Tribute for supporters
of women’s rights set

The Provincial Council for Women of Negros Occidental is honoring individuals who assisted them in empowering women in the past 18 years in the province on Wednesday.

This will be part of the culmination activities for the 18-day Campaign to End Violence against Women.

Former Negros Occidental Gov. Rafael Coscolluela and former 3rd district congresswoman and board member Edith Villanueva, will lead the list of honorees.

It was during the incumbency of Coscolluela and Villanueva, when an ordinance establishing the PCW was approved on December 1994, Silay Councilor Marie June Pavillar-Castro, PCW provincial chairwoman, said

Other honorees were former PCW chairpersons Carmen Peralta Benares, Ana Marie Depasucat, Wenonah Martir and Alice Barcelona.

Dr. Marilyn Marañon, wife of Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr., and Aida Marañon, wife of the late Gov. Joseph Marañon, are also among the awardees.

Emmeline Verzosa, executive director of the Philippine Commission on Women, will be the guest of honor and speaker, while Gov. Maranon will deliver the inspirational message.

The culmination program will start at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday with a candle and prayer ceremonies dedicated to the 18 Day Campaign with this year's theme on "VAW- Free Society in Times of Peace, Crisis and Calamity”. The induction of council officers and board members and awarding ceremonies, will then be held at the Business Inn Hotel in Bacolod City.

Certificates of recognition will be given to selected board members, mayors, vice mayors, councilors, social workers and other government personnel who, and non-government and other allied organizations, and local media entities who have assisted PCW in the past 18 years.

Other PCW officers, to be inducted on Dec. 12 aside from Castro are Wenonah Martyr – vice chairwoman, Rosalinda Tuvilla - secretary, Dionela Madrona - assistant secretary, Marilou Aguirre - treasurer, Dr. Cecilia Tolosa - asst. treasurer, Andrea Lizares-Si - auditor, Mary Eden Ligason - business manager, and Cleovel Villanueva as public information officer.

The members of the Board of Directors are Melinda Aguilar, Freda Fabroz, Nenita Hernando, Marjorie Layumas, Rudica Mangao and Alore Tambanillo.

The year-end and Christmas assembly of PCW will be held on the same day, highlighted with the drawing of winners of the fund raising raffle.*GPB

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Chorale contest slated

The annual Knights of Columbus Inter-Council Chorale Contest will be hosted by the Dona Juliana Heights Council 10164, 7 p.m. on December 15, at the Dona Juliana Parish Grounds in Bacolod City, a press release from the organization said.

The K of C Councils in the Central Negros Provincial Jurisdiction are expected to join the activity, the dinner-for-a-cause and the fellowship to be held in the same venue.

The K of C that has around 1.6 million members, is the largest Catholic family fraternal service organization in the world, and provides members and their families with volunteer opportunities in service to the Catholic Church, the community, families and young people.

The Knights raise and distribute millions of pesos to charity and render hours of volunteer service, the press release also said.

For more details, those interested may contact Grand Knight Bart Allic of Council 10164 at 0926-9111142, the press release added.*

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Star Village opens today

The Christmas Star Village of the Doña Montserrat Lopez Memorial High School in Silay City, Negros Occidental, will be opened at 5:30 p.m. today at its main campus, a press release from the city said.

The yuletide package is in support of the whole-month Christmas tourism program of the city, and the Silay Christmas Village that opened last night at the public plaza.

Principal Wilfredo Hermosura said the project is spearheaded by Richard Esparagoza and Edgardo Ibañez of the Student Affairs Organization, in collaboration with the campus clubs, the press release also said.

The star village will be displayed at the school premises and will be judged on creativity, durability, visual impact and Christmas significance, the press release added.*

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