People & Events Title 1

About 30 children are participating in the five-day creative summer workshop that started yesterday, at the Provincial Capitol initiated by the Negros Occidental Provincial Library, a press release from the province said.

The activity that is on its third year, is sponsored by the Capitol Government Employees Multi-purpose Cooperative and the Provincial Alliance of Capitol Employees, and is exclusive to children of Capitol employees age between 7 to 12 years old.

The workshop aims to provide kids with a fruitful summer, as the event is full of learning and fun activities that will develop their talents and skills, Joyce Delosol, NOPL head, said in the press release.

The children had a tour guiding session on the first day of the workshop, conducted by the Provincial Tourism Office. Other activities were veggie cooking session, emergency awareness training to be conducted by the Provincial Disaster Management Team, and “The Art of Dancing” by Ching Alcala of the Provincial Administration Office, the press release added.*

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NNNP assessment conducted

The Provincial Environment Management Office of Negros Occidental conducted a biodiversity assessment of both flora and fauna in the Northern Negros Natural Park recently, a press release from the Philippine Information Agency said.

The activity, in line with the Negros First Agenda of the provincial government, was aimed at ensuring the integrity of NNNP as a biodiversity site, as a principal water source for 17 towns and cities in the Negros Island, and as a pollution buffer for Negros, the press release added.

The assessment from April 15 to 21 will provide the province with scientific data to back up policies and programs to be undertaken for the park.

With around 25,000 hectares of strict protection zone, the NNNP is home to critically-endangered large mammals such as the Visayan spotted dear (Cervusalfredi), Visayan warty pig (Suscebifrons), and Common Palm Civet (Paradoxurushermaphroditus). It hosts various threatened, endangered and critically-endangered species of wildlife and regulated trees species, the press release said.

Birds such as the Tarictic Hornbill, Serpent Eagle, Hawk Eagle, Brahminy Kite, Philippine Scops Owl, Reddish Cuckoo-Dove, Bleeding Heart Pigeon, Imperial Pigeon and Blue Crowned Racquet-Tail are also found in the area.

According to Birdlife International, NNNP has 40 percent endemicity on birds alone, which means that four out of 10 birds in the area cannot be found elsewhere, the press release added.*

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IN BACOLOD
Santacruzan set May 19

The Bacolod Cultural Foundation Inc. will celebrate Flores de Mayo or the Month of Flowers in tribute to the Virgin Mary, with the traditional santacruzan on May 19, a press release from the city said.

The procession will start at 3 p.m. from the old Bacolod City Hall and end up at the Event Center of SM City. Araceli Mirano, BCFI president, is inviting Bacoleños to join celebration that will be highlighted with sagalas, the press release added.

BCFI has been organizing the santacruzan for the past 26 years, and it has become a colorful and anticipated religious May festival in Bacolod. It is a popular religious-historical event that is held, not only in Bacolod, but in other cities and towns all over the Philippines, the press release said.

The santacruzan commemorates the search for the Holy Cross by Queen Helena and her son, emperor Constantine. After the Holy Cross was found in Jerusalem and brought back to Rome, there was a joyful celebration of thanksgiving, the press release added.*

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SM Foundation grants
scholarship to 7 students

Seven incoming college freshmen have been granted scholarships by SM Foundation Inc., a press release from the mall said.

They are Cherry Mae Cordova and Ma. Luna Belleza, who will both take up BS Accountancy at the University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos; Patricia Villanueva, BS Accountancy at USLS; Karina Jimenea and Ariane Herjie Ballares, BS Computer Engineering at CSA-B; Edwin Hedria Jr., BS Mechanical Engineering at TUP; and John Marie Gabales, BS Electronics and Communications Engineering, also at TUP, the press release also said.

Aside from free tuition, SMFI will also shoulder the miscellaneous fees and provide a monthly stipend to help the students with their school needs. Under the College Scholarship Program, the students could hold temporary jobs at the mall during summer or semestral break, to augment their allowance, the press release said.

Roma Jane Hechanova, an honors graduate of the Bacolod City National High School, will also be assisted by the SMFI. Hechanova is an academic excellence awardee and among the Ten Outstanding Public School Students for 2012 of the Kabayan Noli de Castro Foundation Inc. As the Kabayan scholarship is managed by SM Foundation, Hechanova will also receive full benefits awarded to SM scholars, the press release also said.

Established in 1993, the SMFI scholarship program aims to provide quality education to deserving yet underprivileged high school students, the press release added.*

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