Philvocs to check
'sinkholes' in NegOr

A team of geologists from the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, headed by Dr. Art Daag, will inspect today the perceived sinkholes in some areas in northern Negros Oriental badly hit by the magnitude 6.9 earthquake on February 6.

The Negros Oriental government had forwarded the request to PHIVOLCS, after suspected sinkholes were seen in Tinaogan, Bindoy town, in the shorelines of Ayungon town, and some parts of Guihulngan City, Capitol sources said yesterday.

to Joe Molas, science research analyst of the PHIVOLCS Seismic Station in Sibulan, Negros Oriental, said Daag’s team had visited Negros Oriental earlier but had to go to Cebu on request of provincial officials to investigate a suspected sinkhole in Dumanhog town.

Molas said the sinkholes in Negros Oriental may have resulted from the thousands of aftershocks felt in the last three weeks.

Meanwhile, the number of deaths from the l temblor that left a trail of devastation in Negros Oriental has risen to 57.

A report from the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council as of 5 p.m. yesterday said two more bodies were recovered by residents under the rubble at the landslide area in Barangay Solongon, La Libertad town.

While the bodies were already beyond recognition, the PDRRMC report said residents believed they were those of Reban and Charito Lisondra.

Government and non-government rescuers and civilian volunteers continue without let-up in their retrieval operations for at least 58 missing persons believed to have perished in the landslides in Solongon, La Libertad and in Planas, Guihulngan.*

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La Salle-IS medical mission
benefits 350 in Murcia

Integrated School HS Batch '96 of the University of St. La Salle held its first medical mission in Barangay Cansilayan, Murcia, Saturday, a press release from the school said.

The batch partnered with St. Scholastica's Academy-Bacolod HS Batch ‘96 and the San Isidro Labrador Quasi-Parish, headed by Fr. Noli Blancaflor.

Dr. Francis Elumba of the Corazon Locsin Memorial Regional Hospital and Dr. Michael Joseph David of the David Medical Clinic spearheaded the mission. Other volunteer doctors were JJ Perez, Rina Elumba and Alma Ruiz. Riverside Medical College also sent two college instructors and 17 senior nursing students to assist the doctors.

The Philippine Army - Infantry PA headed by Lt. Col. Nelson Trojilio sent men to o help secure the area.

The mission served 350 patients. Children and adults were also given free haircut and were treated to snacks and arroz caldo, the press release said.*

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High school students
win visual arts tilt

High school visual arts students from Sagay City, dominated the on-the-spot painting contest acrylic category, in the first cultural fellowship and workshop, held by the Art Association of Bacolod-Negros at the Provincial Capitol Lagoon in Bacolod City Saturday.

The event, on the theme “Kahilwayan Para sa Tali-Ambong (Freedom for the Arts)” aimed to end the Arts Month celebration and to commemorate the 26th EDSA People Power Revolution.

Jholina Constantino, Karla Bernabe and Roland Korg Tibor, all from Sagay City, won first, second and third places, respectively.

In the pastel category, Danielle Balanga of Himamaylan won first place, John Paulo Palma of Pontevedra – second, and Desie Jan Magbanua of Hinigaran – third place.

The winners received cash prizes from the provincial government while non-winners received souvenir T-shirts from the AAB-N.

AAB-N president Corazon Golez said, they were able to achieve their objectives due to the positive response of the representatives of the local government units in Negros Occidental with the event.

She said this will be a yearly activity since the provincial government through the Public Affairs Division, has assured them that they will support the visual arts, especially in Negros.

AAB-N is also willing to help LGUs in Negros promote and encourage visual artists in their areas.

Rafael Paderna, AAB-N treasurer, said they saw during the activity that there are many talented artists in the towns and cities of Negros.

The participants also came up with a covenant depicted in a mural painting that they donated to the Negros Occidental provincial government.

The Jess Tribe, a member of the Percussionist Society of Negros performed during the event, while artist Mel Araneta introduced sound art to the participants.*CGS

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