The Silay City government in Negros Occidental is joining in the celebration of the 109th death anniversary of national hero Jose Rizal on the theme "Si Rizal: Noon, Ngayon at Bukas," tomorrow, a press release from the city government said yesterday.

A wreath-laying ceremony in front of the Rizal monument at the public plaza will be held tomorrow after the 6 a.m. Mass to be participated in by non-government organizations and various national offices.

Guest speakers will be Mayor Carlo Gamban and Councilors Mario Torres and Marie June Castro. Gerle Sulmaca will give a narration of the martyrdom of Rizal, the hero's poem will be recited by Charles Justin Hilado, and cultural numbers will be presented by the Kabataang Silay Ensemble. Master of ceremonies will be Silay Tourism officer Ver Pacete.

Certificates of recognition will be given to the 13 top Silaynons and organizations in 2005. They are FIDE Master Sander Severino who won five gold medals in chess during the recent 3rd ASEAN Para Games; senior girl scout Jemalyn Pastoral - Chief Girl Scout Medal national awardee; Doña Monserrat Lopez Memorial High School for its Brigada Eskwela 2005; Sonny Boy Jaro - Philippine lightweight champion; Kabataang Silay Ensemble - National Music Contest for Young Artists Rondalla regional champion and third place winner in the national competition; Maureen Penetrante - 23rd Southeast Asian Games RP volleyball team member that won a bronze medal; Ramon Hofileña - for running the Negros cultural tour for 33 consecutive years; Kabuhi Group founder Monserrat Gamboa Araneta - posthumous award; Silay Public Market - regional winner, Cleanest Public Market Comfort Room contest; Silay City Health Office - Sentrong Sigla II regional awardee and second place winner, REDCOP regional level; Rachel Pabalate - second place, REDCOP regional level; Councilor Mario Torres - Provincial Councilors' League awardee; and SPO1 Dante Victor Escorpion - one of the three outstanding policemen of Negros Occidental. Awards will also be given by the Viva Parol Festival 2005 committee to the barangay and school winners in the Most Artistic, Most Creative, Best Lighted Lantern contest, judged by Segundo Jesus Cabulcar Jr., Dr. Ronald Baldonado, and Fr. Jude Serfino, the press release added.*

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Pedia patients receive gifts

Toys, candies and snack packs were distributed to about 100 patients of the Pediatrics ward of the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital in Bacolod City by the Bacolod City Host Lions Club, recently, a press release from the club said.

The club officers and members led by Dr. Bert Layda, included Mally Legaspi, Em Ang, Pons Garcia, Reynold Iledan, Lucy Iledan, Robert Tan, Grace Benitez and Fely Bejemino, the press release added.*

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School building turned over

A two-classroom school building was turned over by the Federation of Fil-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Inc. and the Southern Negros Fil-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Inc. to the Pontevedra National High School in Pontevedra, Negros Occidental, a press release from the group said yesterday.

The turnover was made through the "Operation Barrio Schools" program of the group.

Present at the activity were FFCCCII Welfare Committee vice chairman Bonifacio Lui; Joseph Co, representing donor Joseph Tong; FFCCCII director and SNFCCCII president emeritus Carlos Javellana; SNFCCCII president Adolfo Lim; SNFCCCII vice president Luis Chan; SNFCCCII directors Lucy Ponce, Aida Uy and Salvacion Chua; Tony Sy of Gaisano City Mall-Bacolod; and the SNFCCCII officers.

Pontevedra town officials, teachers, parents and students of the school witnessed the turnover, the press release added.*

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