ANGELES CITY, Pampanga — The search for Filipino pop stars organized by Organisasyon ng Pilipinong Mang-aawit (OPM) and Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) on Wednesday remind all aspiring OPM- total performers in Northern and Central Luzon that the deadline for the submission of application is Thursday March 10, 2011.

The competition, dubbed “OPM@PAGCOR: A Nationwide Search for the Total OPM Performer,” is open to all amateur singers of Filipino or dual citizenship who are at least 18 years old and have not won a major prize in any national singing tilt.

The requirements, as well as the official registration form, may be downloaded from www.opm.org.ph or www.pagcor.ph . (Franco Regala)

Bulacan observes Fire Prevention Month
CITY OF MALOLOS, Bulacan — As the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (PDRRMO) observes the Fire Prevention Month this March, Bulacan Governor Wilhelmino M. Sy-Alvarado called on Bulakenyos to always take the needed precautions against fires.

Alvarado said several activities were lined up to heighten the public awareness and involvement to prevent fire accidents that will lead to unnecessary losses of assets and lives.

The celebration with the theme, “Kahandaan sa Sunog…Tungo sa Kaunlaran” kicked off with the provincewide simultaneous blowing of horns in all fire stations and a motorcade participated in by Bureau of Fire Protection personnel, government employees and officials and different rescue groups in Bulacan. (Freddie C. Velez)

Zambales to Pangasinan Road project set
IBA, Zambales — Governor Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. on Wednesday lauded the another biggest road project that will open Zambales to the north is the construction of the Guisguis- Mangatarem Road.

It will link Sta Cruz , Zambales to Mangatarem, Pangasinan.

Prior to this, the governor, one of his priority projects to link the province’s roads connecting North Luzon for business hub as well.

He also wants to share his expertise as former public works secretary, to provide local road networks to other regions, adding to boost business not only local trade or farm to market roads, but also he want to explore the tourism business to seeing the beauty of natures and beaches in Zambales. (Franco G. Regala).

Cavite prepares for Lent
Officials in Cavite are preparing for the Lenten season in terms of activities, traffic management and security as the influx of people is expected to double for the traditional pilgrimage in the province.

The pastoral offices in the cities and towns of Cavite will hold retreats and recollection activities and Weekly Stations of the Cross during the Lenten season. March 9, 2011 was Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent.

The day signaled the start of the holy season and the eventual summer months in the country.

The proximity of Cavite to National Capitol Region (NCR) or Metro Manila, the fine climate and the religious heritage, among others, have made the province a destination for local and foreign pilgrims and tourists. (Anthony Giron).

No tsunami threat in PH: Phivolcs
SINAIT, Ilocos Sur — No tsunami threat that raised to the country following the magnitude 7.2 earthquake occurred last Wednesday at off the east coast of Honshu, Japan, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) satellite based here.

Local Phivolcs Researcher Porferio De Peralta, told that the center of said earthquake, which occurred at about 10:45 a.m. at off the east coast of Honsu, Japan with a depth of 10 kilometers, was too far from the country. (Freddie G. Lazaro)