World wetlands day marked

World Wetland Day is celebrated every second of February each year as part of the country’s commitment to the Convention on Wetlands or the Ramsar Convention, a Philippine Information Agency press release said.

Proclamation No. 74 dated February 2, 1999 also declared the celebration of the National Wetlands Day.

The World Wetland’s Day theme for 2012 is “Wetlands and Tourism” where wetland tourism has benefits both locally and nationally for people and wildlife.

These benefits include stronger economies, sustainable livelihoods, healthy people and thriving ecosystems, the press release said.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources together with the Provincial Government of Negros Occidental thru Provincial Environment Management Office, Philippines Biodiversity Conservation Foundation, Inc., Negros Forest Ecological Foundation, Inc., La Consolacion College-Bacolod City and other private institutions have taken advantage of the opportunity to undertake actions aimed at raising awareness of wetland importance and use in general.

A one-day “Basic Orientation on Migratory Birds Research and Census for Teachers” on February 1 will be conducted at the La Consolacion College-Bacolod Auditorium with the different schools, colleges and universities as participants.

Outdoor activities such as Bird Census, Bird Identification and Watching will be conducted in Pulupandan, Negros Occidental today.

Prior to this activity, a one-day Basic Orientation on Migratory Birds Research and Census for LGUs was conducted also in Pulupandan on January 11 with attended by some 30 participants.

This is preparation for the simultaneous Waterbird Count scheduled for the last two weeks of January.

The DENR has identified 14 wetland sites as flyway of migratory birds in Negros Occidental, the press release added.*

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‘iBILIB’ debuts
over GMA-7

iBILIB host Chris Tiu together with his wacky gang, Isabel Oli and Moymoy Palaboy, finds out how the impossible becomes possible through mundane things in the next episode of “iBILIB, The Wonders of Horus” on GMA-7, a press release from the network said.

The gang of curious myth busters figures out how goose feathers can double as an instant water-proof net and stop a person from getting wet in a tank of water. They will also play around with an elliptical billiard table and discover why it always guarantees a sure shot.

But the biggest challenge of the night is whether they can walk on water. Will they pull off this experiment successfully or will they find themselves in deep, murky trouble? Find out the secret ingredient to this seemingly impossible feat.

Meanwhile, iBILIB debuted strongly with a solid 28.9 percent household share last Sunday while it’s competitor in the rival station trailed behind with only 23.9percent, the press release said.

More exciting and unbelievable trivia will be uncovered in “iBILIB, The Wonders of Horus”, this Sunday night on GMA-7, after Kap’s Amazing Stories, it said.*

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EDC, UNO-R ink agreement

The University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos and the Energy Development Corporation yesterday signed a memorandum of agreement as partners for environmental education campaign to help restore and rescue Philippine biodiversity by planting premium and rare heritage trees of the country.

Dwight Maxino, EDC resident vice president in Negros Occidental, said UNO-R is the first university partner in its greening program.

He said they will provide funds and technical assistance to the university especially in maintaining and sustaining the growth of premium trees.

Fr. Emeterio Buñao, acting university president of UNO-R, thanked EDC for the partnership and vowed to carry it responsibly.

He added that EDC has seen their capacity, interest, potential, and willingness to cooperate in preserving the environment.

Meanwhile, EDC has planted about 700 hectares of land in the province and has conducted reforestation projects in Negros Oriental, Sorsogon, and Leyte, Maxino added.

The Museum of Philippine Heritage Trees Site Billboard was also unveiled yesterday. *LTG

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USLS names
institutional awardees

The recipients of the Institutional Awards for Academic Year 2011-12, were announced by the Board of Trustees of the University of St. La Salle in Bacolod City recently, a press release from USLS said.

The awardees are Bishop Peter Feng Xinmou. Nestor Lemana Sr., and Bruno Haas.

The Fides Award, that is given to individuals of exemplary faith founded on a strong commitment to faith and service goes to Xinmou, chairman of the Board of Jinde Charities, an institution that helped in the recent earthquake in Sinchuang by sending 20 sisters with medical skill and some doctors and priests in the rescue operation.

Lemana is the recipient of the St. La Salle Award, that is given to outstanding alumni whose personal and professional lives exemplify the ideals of the Founder; and who serve as role models to fellow Lasallians.

He is the executive director Notre Dame Educational Association and the Corporate Secretary of the Notre Dame Archdiocesan Schools of Cotabato and   also chairman of Feed the Children Foundation, Philippines from the year 2008-2011 and the project director of MISEREOR-Funded Scholarship Program for Disadvantaged Cultural Minoities in Mindanao from 1980-2011.

The Signum Lasallian Award will be conferred upon Bruno Haas, president and chairman of Bacolod Patenkinder, e.V. of Munich, Germany, that is a funding partner of Bacpat Youth Development Foundation which provides scholarship assistance and other social services to hundreds of poor and deserving students in Bacolod City and Negros Occidental.

Haas has raised funds for relief aid and rehabilitation in the slums and communities of Sto. Niño, Sum-ag, and many others in Bacolod City.

The awardees will be recognized during the graduation rites of the different colleges, the press release added.*

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