DAILY STAR: Negros Oriental

Seventeen couples exchanged marriage vows in a mass wedding at the St. Catherine of Alexandria Cathedral in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental, Saturday.

Msgr. Julius Heruela, parish rector, officiated at the wedding called the “Kasalan ng Bayan” with Fr. Ferdinand Ferraren concelebrating.

He said the activity is done three times a year to encourage couples to get married in the Catholic Church to eliminate impediments like their children being unable to receive the Sacrament of Baptism.

6.1 quake rocks Philippines

A 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck off the west coast of the main Philippine island of Luzon on Sunday, US seismologists said, but there were no reports of casualties and no tsunami alert was issued.

The US Geological Survey said the quake hit at a depth of 35 kilometres (22 miles) at 6:18 am (2218 GMT Saturday), 182 km northwest of the capital Manila.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology measured the quake at 6.0 magnitude.

370,000 Grade 7
students get subsidy

The Department of Education has increased by 98 percent the education service contracting slots for Grade 7 students who wish to continue their secondary education in private schools, its press release said.

Secretary Armin Luistro of DepEd said the number of slots has increased from 190,536 in school year 2011-2012, to 377,227 slots this school year under the Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education program, the press release also said.

The amount of grant has likewise increased from P5,500 to P6,500 for First Year Education Service Contracting grantees outside of the National Capital Region starting this school year.

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