Government offices and organizations spearheaded various contests for Nutrition Month, on the theme “Wastong Nutrisyon ni Mommy, Siguradong Healthy si Baby”, launched yesterday in Kabankalan City , Negros Occidental.

The celebration kicked off with a parade participated in by students and bands from private and public schools, followed by a program at the plaza with Mayor Pedro Zayco Jr., city medical officer Dr. Mynah Madrones, and nutrition action officer Dr. Nemesio Cañete as speakers, a Kabankalan press release said.

Zayco stressed the importance of avoiding junk food, and he urged mothers to be creative in preparing cheap but nutritious food, to cope with the increasing prices of basic commodities.

Madrones said it is important for pregnant women to eat nutritious food for a baby's healthy development, the press release said.

Meanwhile, the mascot contest was won by Erams West Elementary School , in the fruit category, and Brgy. Carol-an in the vegetable category, the press release said.

Judges were Dr. Jepte Castillon, vice president of the Rotary Club of Kabankalan; Dr. Rey Valencia , a Rotarian, and Emily Cañete, wife of Dr. Nemesio Cañete, nutrition action officer.

Other contests lined up for the celebration are Nutri Pinta, Nutri Essay, Nutri Wow, Nutri Quiz, Lutuing Filipino, Draw and Tell, Poetry Writing and Kwentong Nutri, sponsored by The Luz Perez Zayco Memorial Short Story Writing on Nutrition for Children.

Other sponsors are the Apex, Rotary, Upsilon Phi Sigma, Sigma Rho, Barangay Nutrition scholars, Kabankalan Water District, “Molasses” Jaycees, Social Welfare and Development Office, Department of Public Works and Highways 3rd Negros Occidental Engineering District, Health Office, Lions Club, “Bangkal” Jaycees and Noceco Toastmasters Club, the press release added.*

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BLD to mark 16 th year

The Bukas Loob Sa Diyos Covenant Community-Bacolod District will celebrate its 16th Foundation Day on July 20 on the theme “Loving God and Loving Others with Commitment and Dedication,” with a grand spiritual homecoming for all its members, a press release from the group said.

Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, CBCP chairman and Spiritual Director of the BLD Global Community, will be the main celebrant at Concelebrated Mass with Fr. Narciso de la Cruz, district spiritual director.

Alvin Barcelona, a Kerygma preacher under Bo Sanchez and a former National Awardee for Culture and Arts in 2000 given by the Ship for Southeast Asian Youth, will be sharing his story of transformation and songs.

He has traveled and preached nationwide and worldwide in 15 countries.

All BLD members from 1991 are encouraged to join the occasion, the press release added.*

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Festival costumes featured
at PYAP '08 conference night

The Pag-asa Youth Association of the Philippines National Management Development Conference Night was held at the Sarabia Manor Hotel in Iloilo City , recently.

Among those who attended were first runner-up of the Mr. Pag-asa Youth Association of the Philippines 2008 Francis Ian Adad and Ms. PYAP second runner-up Mary Kris Vasquez, both from Kabankalan, Negros Occidental, a press release from the city said.

Also present at the confab, hosted by the DSWD Field Office VI, was Social Work and Development Secretary Esperanza Cabral and members of the National Executive Committee, with the DSWD regional directors.

Other places that also presented their festival costumes were the provinces of Aklan, Antique, Capiz, and Guimaras, and the cities of Iloilo , Bacolod and Roxas.

There was also a repeat performance of the presentation at the Convention Center in Iloilo City to accommodate a bigger crowd, the press release said.

The event showcased the festival costumes from the different places in Western Visayas , the press release added.*

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Bacolod trisikad
fest kicks off today

A two-day Trisikad Festival in Bacolod City kicks off today with the theme “Trisikad Ko, Kabuhi Ko.”

Vicente Petierre Sr., executive assistant to Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia, yesterday said that together with Senior Insp. Levy Pangue, Councilor Wilson Gamboa Jr., chairman of the Transportation Committee, and Liga president Councilor Diosdado Valenzuela, they decided to give recognition to trisikad drivers.

“If this informal sector is not given attention, this might create a social problem in Bacolod City ,” he said.

Gamboa said they hope to make the Trisikad Festival a yearly activity for the trisikad drivers. The Trisikad Festival 2008 will be held in celebration of the birthday of Leonardia, he said.

Petierre said there will be a trisikad race at the Bacolod Public Plaza at 8 a.m. today while a trisikad parade will be held tomorrow. He said prizes are at stake for the winners such as gift certificates worth P1,500 for first prize, 1,000 for second and P500 for third.

Licensed trisikad drivers will be given raffle tickets during the program at the Bays Center tomorrow where the city will be giving away two trisikads as grand prizes, Petierre said. They will also be giving away P350 worth of packages, he added.

Petierre said they have oriented trisikad drivers in Bacolod on City Ordinance 270, which governs the operation of trisikads. There are over 5,000 trisikads plying the streets of Bacolod , he said, and they are requesting the barangay councils to submit records of trisikads in their area.

He said they have initiated measures to control the operation of trisikads in Bacolod together with Pangue and the Bacolod Traffic Authority Office.

Gamboa said the thrust of the national government is to gradually phase out trisikads especially in highly urbanized cities like Bacolod . He believes they should be given alternative source of livelihood, he said.

Meanwhile, Gamboa said the city has a request with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board for the opening of new routes for jeepneys plying the CEGASCO and Bata areas, going to the new government center.

Meanwhile, he said statistics show that the use of motored vehicles in Manila has reduced by 20 percent. Maybe people are taking public utility vehicles instead due to the rising cost of fuel, he said.*CGS

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