KALIBO, AKLAN, Philippines (PNA) – A total of 221 passengers of M/V Love 1 were declared safe after the vessel ran aground in the Batan Sea Saturday morning.

Said passengers of the grounded ship were immediately transferred to another vessel so that they can reach their destination, which is Dumaguit Port in New Washington, Aklan. Lt. Commander Terrence Alsosa of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Dumaguit said that aside from its passengers, M/V Love 1 also had on board eight roll on-roll off passenger buses.

"Based on our initial investigation, ship captain Wilfredo Arosa miscalculated the port as it is low tide,” he said in explaining why the reason for the ship’s technical problem.

By Saturday, 6 a.m., the PCG declared all Metro Manila-based passengers safe, and on their way home after reaching Dumaguit port.

All of them immediately went home as soon as they reached the port even as Alsosa said they continued to investigate the incident.

30 KIDS CHRISTENED

SAN REMIGIO, Cebu, Philippines – Believing in the importance of Christian duties, the San Remigio Beach Club recently sponsored the christening of some 30 children in this town.

Marc Anthony Ynoc, San Remigio Beach Club general manager said the activity is part of their corporate social responsibility programs which is timely for the gift-giving season.

The mass christening is an event initiated and fully sponsored by the said resort as its way of helping the community since 2002.

“Since the start, we have always initiated projects helping the people in the community. Last year, we hosted a mass wedding with 26 couples taking part in the event,” Ynoc said.

“And this year, 30 babies with ages ranging from three months to seven years old were baptized so that they can become true children of God.

”He added that because San Remigio is a laid back community, people often think less of baptism or a Church wedding. “San Remigio town is a laid back community with a low employment rate. Two of the most dependable livelihood here are farming and fishing.

This goes to show that most of the people here live on a day to day basis and having weddings or christenings is the last thing in their minds.

As a dedicated Catholic company, we felt the need to help our less fortunate brothers and sisters in this town.” Ynoc disclosed that aside from sponsoring the christening ceremony, the resort has also prepared food for the babies and their family.

Also, the resort is sending some 90 kids to school. (Phoebe Jen Indino)

ILOILO SCHOOL WINS NAT'L AWARD

ILOILO CITY, Philippines (PNA) – A public secondary school here bested all other high schools in the country in terms of implementing values education in the academe.

La Paz National High School (LPNHS) became the recipient of this year’s “Most Outstanding Implementor of Values Education” award given by the Pambansang Samahan Para sa Edukasyong Pagpapahalaga (PSEP) during its awarding rites recently at the Waterfront Hotel in Davao City.

The school received a plaque of recognition from the organizers.

PSEP is a non-stock, non-profit, non-partisan and non-sectarian organization, committed to uphold and strengthen values education programs and to evaluate their impact on the country’s development.

Mayor Jed Patrick E. Mabilog honored LPNHS with a Mayor’s Citation for its highly commendable performance.

“Such exemplary accomplishment attests to the high sense of professionalism and noble dedication of our educators, giving an outstanding testimony that indeed, the state’s investment to public education is not a lost cause after all,” he said.

The accolade and recognition are truly the mark of noteworthy inspiration which every public servant and government functionary must always aim to achieve, Mabilog added.

“We are building our students’ characters and strengthening their morals through values education,” Mabilog said. Last year, Iloilo City National High School in Molo district also won the same award from PSEP for their outstanding school-based values education program.