It's National Arts Month and Negrenses must be pleased to know that Bacolod City and Negros Occidental have been chosen as the launching site for the month-long celebration. The choice of the province as the site for the initial activity is apparently a recognition of the milestones in the development of culture and arts.

As you can see from the February arts calendar (opposite page), the activities are loaded and multi-faceted, reflective of the gains and headways of efforts of various institutions with the support of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts.

Our opinion pages are filled with diverse and interesting topics. Carlo Leonardia pens insights on justice, Cecile Genove writes about two beauty-and-brains sisters, Ian Casocot recollects his experiences at Luce while watching Lisa Macuja and Ann Caña compares character and our Charter.

On the lighter side, and as part of the Arts Month activities, Bacolod City marked its Chinese New Year celebration Saturday and Pulupandan will hold its fiesta and Salapan Festival - to focus attention on and pay tribute to the economic and livelihood activities in the seaport town. The town activities started yesterday and will end Feb. 16. The celebration will be highlighted by the dance parade competition, the paraw regatta and the presentation of recognition for out-standing organizations and Pulupandan residents.

And speaking of the sea, a quaint town in Siquijor island is becoming one of the popular destinations of domestic and foreign visitors. We are featuring some of the attractions of Maria, one of the six towns in the province-island.

StarLife is privileged to be part of the promotion of the celebration of culture and the arts this month.

Enjoy StarLife Sunday as you also relish the fun offerings of February.