The San Carlos City government in Negros Occidental, through its City Social Welfare and Development Office, launched recently a supplemental feeding program for malnourished pre-school children aged five years and below in Brgy. VI, San Carlos City .

The 6-month feeding involving 283 children supplements the regular three-times-per-week feeding program of the city government for the different barangays of the city. With the additional two days of feeding per week, recipients are served nutritious food five times a week.

The local government has allocated P711,000 for the regular feeding program for the whole year. The additional amount of P183,160 came from the City's share of the Small Town Lottery, an affiliate of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.

Mayor Eugenio Jose Lacson and Vice Mayor Gerardo Valmayor Jr. launched the program by serving the food to the children, assisted by the members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod, CSWDO staff, and Brgy. VI officials.

Lacson encouraged the concerned parents to avail of the program for the good health of their children.*

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Villar to crown Jaro
fiesta queen today

Senate President Manny Villar will be the guest of honor at the coronation of the Jaro Fiesta Queen that highlights the celebration of the Feast of Our Lady of Candelaria today, a press release from his office said.

Villar and his wife, Las Piñas Rep. Cynthia Villar, will assist last year's title-holder, Maria Katrina Lopez Abello in crowning Bacoleña Andrea Aileen Marie Vinco Montelibano as the 2008 Jaro Fiesta Queen.

The Feast of Our Lady of Candelaria and the Agro-Industrial and Charity Fair are the grandest religious fiestas in the country and the biggest crowd-drawer in Iloilo after the Dinagyang Fiestival. Most of the 1.2 million visitors who come to witness the Dinagyang Festival stayed on to take part in the Jaro fiesta, the press release said.

“Festivities such as this emphasize the religiosity of Filipinos and our innate fondness for merry-making. Our festivals are known in the whole world for its ingenuity and creativity and remain as a top tourist attraction,” Villar said.

The coronation night will be attended by prominent personalities in the province, and entertainment will be provided by the University of Iloilo Performing Arts and one of the country's top singers, Jose Marie Chan.

The procession of the Nuestra Señora de Candelaria, the patroness of Western Visayas , followed by the crowned fiesta queen and her court are the most awaited parts of the celebration, the press release said.

Villar, who hails from Iloilo , is a devoted supporter of the celebration. Two years ago, Camille, his only daughter, was crowned fiesta queen, the press release added.*

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