The National Commission for Culture and the Arts will present the Santa Cruzan in its original version in Silay City, on Sunday, a press release from Msgr. Guillermo Ma. Gaston, NCCAA coordinator for the Filipino Heritage Festival in Negros Occidental, said.

The Santa Cruzan will be presented the way the early missionaries conceived it, as a religious procession depicting mankind’s salvation through the Cross of Christ.

The procession will begin at the Balay Negrense and will go around the city. It will end at the public plaza where each sagala will be presented with the symbolisms they are carrying during the procession, and the Emperatrice Elena will be crowned in thanksgiving for having discovered the true cross of Jesus Christ, the press release said.

NCCA is celebrating this month the annual Filipino Heritage Festival in various parts of the country. During the past years, various cultural activities were also held, and it was suggested that the Filipino Heritage Festival in Silay City be celebrated, the press release added.*

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PPI elects trustees,
board of directors

The Philippine Press Institute elected its officers and trustees, recently, a PPI press release said.

Chosen chairman-president was Isagani Yambot of Philippine Daily Inquirer; Vergel Santos (BusinessWorld) – vice chairman; Fr. Jonathan Domingo (Mindanao Cross) – secretary; Antonio Katigbak (The Philippine Star) – treasurer; Augusto Villanueva (The Journal Group of Publications) – assistant treasurer; and Jose Pavia (Mabuhay) – executive director.

The new trustees are Amado Macasaet (Malaya), Rogelio Salazar (Manila Standard Today), Juan Mercado (Press Foundation of Asia), Quirino Alban (Makiling Journal) for Luzon, Dalmacio Grafil (Leyte-Samar Daily Express) – Visayas, and Fr. Jonathan Domingo for Mindanao, the press release said.

Press awardees were also recognized during the event, the press release added.*

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LCC Bacolod offers
professional program

La Consolacion College in Bacolod City has developed the Professional Program that will accredit individuals’ actual achievements. This will lead to the conferment of an earned degree, through the Commission on Higher Education’s Expanded Tertiary Education Equivalency and Accreditation Program, an LCC press release said.

Through this scheme, any Filipino around the world, who has been employed for at least five years, may obtain an academic degree based on learning achieved from non-formal education and job experiences.

A Panel of Assessors will determine the candidate’s knowledge, skills, attitudes and values relevant to a particular discipline.

Modular method of instruction is applied to make it more convenient for the candidate, who will earn the equivalent credits and the appropriate certificate or degree, the press release said.

The program is accessible to any Filipino, who is at least a high school graduate; have been employed for at least five years in the field or industry related to the academic program or discipline applied for. 

Applicants must be at least 22 years old and must be able to show evidence of capability and thorough knowledge in the field applied for equivalency and accreditation, the press release said.

LCCB is one of the 86 institutions of higher learning authorized by the Commission on Higher Education to be an ETEEAP provider.

  Since 2003, the school has graduated several professionals in the following programs: Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management, Bachelor of Science in Commerce, and Bachelor of Liberal Arts, the press release said.

Interested applicants may call Azel Facultad at Tel. Nos. 4349661 to 64.*

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Policemen render
aid to mission

Community Relations personnel of the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office headed by Chief Insp. Jefferson Descallar assisted in the medical-dental mission for 300 residents of Brgy. Cabahug in Cadiz City, recently, a NOPPO press release said.

Residents availed of free check-up, consultations and free medicines in the activity that coincided with their Barangay Day celebration, the press release said.

It also said that the mission was initiated by the local government unit of Cadiz under Mayor Salvador Escalante and the City Council led by Lilia Decolongon, and the barangay council of Cabahug, through Barangay Captain Ray Lee.*

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Trafficking symposium
conducted

A symposium on Republic Act 9208 or the Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003 was held at the Sangguniang Panlungsod Session Hall of Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental, recently.

It was spearheaded by the Columban Ministry on Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation, Negros Nine Human Development Foundation, Inc., with the City Social Welfare and Development Office of Kabankalan, a press release from organizers said.

The forum focused on the “Hidden World of Trafficking, Trends and Situationer”. Arnel Sigue was the resource speaker.

Vice Mayor Delia Anacan and Councilor Joan Daclan-Cagape represented the local government, the press release said.

Sixty participants from the Philippine National Police headed by Supt. Calixto Mabugat, CSWD head Adelina Tomaro, barangay officials, and representatives from the Sangguniang Kabataan Federation, government line agencies, private sectors, church, and academe, among others.

The City Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking was also organized during the forum, to forge an alliance against trafficking, the press release added.*

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