The East-West Center is now accepting applications for the Spring 2008 Jefferson Fellowships for Journalists on the theme "The Other China" set May 3-25, 2008, a press release from organizers said.

Fellows will travel together to Honolulu , Hawaii , U.S.A. ; and Beijing , Chongqing and Chengdu in China . Program will include overland travel through smaller cities and rural areas between Chongqing and Chengdu .

The program is open for working print, broadcast, and on-line journalists in the United States , Asia and the Pacific Islands , who have at least five years of experience, the press release said.

Application deadline is on December 5, 2007, and those interested may log on to www.eastwestcenter.org/jefferson, or www.eastwestcenter.org/journalismfellowships.

They may also contact Susan Kreifels, Media Programs Coordinator of East-West Center, at (808) 944-7176, or visit kreifels@eastwestcenter.org, the press release added.*

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Children's month marked

A seminar on children's rights and protection was conducted in line with the National Children's Month celebration, at SM City Bacolod, recently, a press release from organizers said.

Councilor Celia Flor was the guest speaker. Participants consisted of local Day Care Center teachers, members of the Department of Social Services and Development and the Department of Social Welfare and Development, and residents of Barangay 12 in Bacolod .

An orientation seminar for mall managers, employees, tenants, security guards and janitorial personnel of SM was also held for them to understand the needs and rights of a child, the press release said.

Mary Grace Agcaoili, representing the UNICEF, was the guest speaker. She was later joined by Assistant Secretary of the DSWD Ruel Lucentales. Other resource speakers were Supt. Idel Brandi Usana, and Director Elena Caraballo of CWC.

Meanwhile, the SM Supermalls have improved its various child friendly facilities and signage reminders around the mall to promote safety. Kiddie urinals and diaper changers have been installed inside the mall comfort rooms. Services for handicapped children such as payphones, lower drinking fountains, breastfeeding stations, as well as kiddie carts were also made available.

The malls have also prepared a month long calendar of kids' activities such as children's film and puppet shows, celebrity and/or mascot appearances, balloon twisting, face painting, storytelling, and several other ways for the family to celebrate the children's month, the press release added.*

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Lakbay Alalay activated

The 1 st Engineering District of the Department of Public Works and Highways in Negros Occidental activated the “Lakbay Alalay” teams to assist motorists and tourists until tomorrow, a press release from the DPWH district under Sanny Boy Oropel said.

Three Lakbay Alalay centers were put up near the public cemetery of E.B. Magalona and San Carlos City proper for both the Bacolod North Road ; and the Don Salvador Benedicto Proper Section for the Bacolod-Murcia-San Carlos Road .

These centers are manned by mechanics who will assist in case of engine trouble, personnel who can provide information on the location of a specific destination and a mobile crew for related services, the press release added.*

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