IN KABANKALAN
Light a candle for peace set

Kabankalan City in Negros Occidental will hold the Light a Candle for Peace Ceremony at the public plaza, 6 p.m., Friday, a Kabankalan press release said.

This activity is in line with the declaration of September as the National Peace Consciousness Month, on the theme “Kung May Kapayapaan, May Kaunlaran, Maki-Isa! Maki-Peace – Ta!”

Kabankalan Vice Mayor Delia Anacan will give an inspirational message during the program at the Kabankalan plaza.

Presidential Proclamation No. 675 had urged all local government units in the province to hold a similar observance.  The occasion must synchronize with the program to be staged at the Provincial Capitol Park in Bacolod City.  

Expected to participate are the different religious sectors, non-government organizations, civil society, the youth and other multi-sectoral groups, the press release said.

The Office of Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. had request the mayors to document their program and email them to padnegros@yahoo.com for proper dissemination.

The Sangguniang Panlalawigan also issued a resolution enjoining all LGUs in the province to support the celebration, the press release added.*

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Teacher’s day
slated at mall

SM City Bacolod, in cooperation with the Bacolod City National High School, will honor Filipino teachers in a Teacher’s Day celebration at the mall’s Northwing Event Centre 4:30 p.m., October 6.

Booths will provide free pampering services to teachers and a special tribute number where a successful BCNHS alumnus will give a special message.

It will be highlighted by the posting of messages at the “Thank You, Teacher” wall where everyone gets to write a message to his or her teacher, a press release from SM said.

BCNHS teachers will also showcase their talents in dancing while students will give testimonials for them.

President Benigno Aquino III has declared September 5 to October 5 of every year as National Teachers' Month, under Proclamation 242, the press release said.

The celebration of National Teacher's Month aims to revitalize the image of teaching as a vocation by increasing public awareness on the value of teachers in Philippine society and national development, the press release added.*

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Negrense scholars
get cash assistance

A total of 190 college students studying in different colleges and universities in Negros Occidental received cash assistance of P2,500 each, for the first semester of this school year, as part of the Educational Assistance Program of Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. and Vice Gov. Genaro Alvarez Jr., a press release from the Capitol said.

The students received the amount at the Sangguniang Panlungsod Session Hall Monday.

Marañon reiterated that education is the greatest social equalizer. He advised the students to study well in order for them to get a job after they graduate and eventually help their families.

Meanwhile, Alvarez instructed the students to submit to his office their school assessments for the first semester to hasten the processing of their assistance for the second semester, the press release said.

The students also signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the provincial government containing with their obligations which are that they must have no failing grades or dropped subjects; must complete all requirements of the study within the period specified; follow rules and regulations of the school where they are enrolled; serve the community where they came from; and must initiate any entrepreneurial activities, the press release said.*

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Electric MassKara
set Oct. 14-15

There will be a more festive celebration of this year’s Electric MassKara that will be held on October 14 and 15 in two venues: the Tourism Strip along Lacson Street, and Rizal Street, between the SM City buildings in Bacolod City, a press release from the organizers said.

On Oct. 14, a total of 10 Bacolod barangays are competing in the Performing Float Competition. These are barangays 2, 3, 11, 23, 30, 39, Alijis, Bata, Cabug, and Taculing.

The float parade starts at 7 p.m. at SM City, and will proceed to the Tourism Strip where there will be performances, the press release said.

On the second night, corporate floats will join the Electric Float Parade, and will include the top three winners of the performing float competition the previous night.

Also for two nights, there will be concerts at four venues along Tourism Strip, and at Rizal Street in SM City.

On these dates, traffic will shut down partially starting noon and will shut down totally starting 4 p.m. in those areas, festival organizers added.

Festival organizers stressed that during the Electric MassKara celebration, tents, tables and chairs will no longer be allowed at the Tourism Strip.

This is to allow bigger space for people traffic and the parade that will have bigger floats.

However, establishments that have their own private parking spaces and sidewalks can set up tables in them, organizers added.

Now on its fifth year, the Electric MassKara, which is a major event of the festival, has successfully earned its own distinction as another mardi grass of the festival.

In 2007, organizers converted the Lacson Street (from the 5th Street to North Drive) into a Tourism Strip as an alternative party venue to the public plaza. For two nights the Electric MassKara showcases colorfully lit dancers and carnival-like features.

While the dancers are performing on the floats, the audiences enjoy a comfortable view from their vantage points, which are a long line of kiosks for food and drinks from two sides of the street, the press release added.*

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