A faculty member of the Department of Interdisciplinary Studies and Graduate School of the University of St. La Salle-Bacolod City has been awarded a full grant by the International Peace Research Association, to present a paper at its upcoming conference in Leuven, Belgium, on July 15-19, a USLS press release said.

Jean Lee Patindol, national coordinator of the Peace and Conflict Journalism Network-Philippines, will present her paper on "PECOJON: Building A Peace Journalists' Network from the Ground", the press release said. 

Patindol teaches economics, communications, culture and research courses at USLS, and also writes award-winning children's books, the press release added.*

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Yoga group joins exhibit

The Bhakti-Yoga Society of Bacolod joined the Earthday 2008 exhibit that opened recently at the Event Center of SM City in Bacolod, a press release from the group said.

The Society is under Swami B.V. Narayan Maharaja, the founder acarya of Bhaktivedanta Trust International.

Bhakti-yoga is an ancient tradition rooted in the Vedic teachings, and is considered the ultimate stage in the yoga system and the sublime method of meditation for the modern age.

The group’s exhibit titled “Vaishnava Ecology” was centered on a spiritual outlook in environmental protection and conservation, the press release said.

It also highlighted significant recommendations in environmentalism, including how to lead a spiritual life, and to lead a vegetarian lifestyle.

Vaishava Ecology also encourages the maximization of the healing powers of medicinal herbs, clay, pure water, air, and affectionate care are the best of all available cures; refraining from junk food; and even constructing one’s in the context of environmental harmony, the press release added.*

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Bacolod City to mark
day of househelpers

April 27 this year was designated as Domestic Workers Day in Bacolod City through Ordinance No. 411 authored by Councilor Jocelle Batapa-Sigue, declaring every Sunday before Labor Day of every year, as the “Araw ng Kasambahay” in the city, a press release from Batapa’s office said.

The Bacolod City Gender and Development Council chaired by Batapa-Sigue, and the Visayan Forum Foundation Inc. headed by Salvador Acupan will celebrate the day as “Adlaw sang Mga Kabulig Sa Panimalay”, the press release said.    

The highlight will be a practical life skills training for 400 domestic workers or household helpers in Bacolod.

Organizers will also undertake a signature campaign to push for the approval in the House of Representatives of the proposed Magna Carta for Kasambahays, which was already approved by the Senate.

Those who wish for more information about the Domestic Workers Day may call Tel. No. (034) 433-9011, local 220, the press release added.*

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NSO Neg.Occ. to
conduct survey

NSO-Negros Occidental conducts 2008 informal sector survey

The National Statistics Office in Negros Occidental is conducting the nationwide 2008 Informal Sector Survey this month, a Philippine Information Agency press release said.

A total of 1,450 sample households from 86 sample barangays in the province will be interviewed by NSO personnel and hired interviewers.

The 2008 ISS is the first nationwide survey of informal sector undertaken by NSO, aside from the regular quarterly Labor Force Survey. It uses a four-page questionnaire to gauge to identify informal operators, jobs in the informal sectors and informal employment in the country.

The survey is a nationwide data collection operation by the NSO, in collaboration with the Untied Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, the press release said.

The ISS will serve as a tool of the government for estimating both the informal employment and the contribution of informal sector enterprises to total Gross Domestic Product.

The survey is authorized by various legislative acts and presidential directives of the government like the Commonwealth Act Number 591.  All information taken from the surveys and censuses are strictly confidential, the press release said.

Provincial Statistics Officer Fred Sollesta said that the good realization of this survey depends on the data to be collected on the field based on the cooperation of the sample respondents of 1150 households throughout the province, the press release added.*

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