MALOLOS CITY, Bulacan, Philippines – Provincial Public Affairs Office chief Maricel Santos Cruz yesterday said Bulacan Governor Wilhelmino M. Sy-Alvarado was given full military honors by the 17th Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army (PA) at Port Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija when the governor paid an official visit at the camp.

Alvarado was the guest of honor and speaker during the annual inspection and tour to the camp to show force and readiness of the Philippine Army in attending response activities in times of calamities and emergencies.

Major General Irineo C. Espino, 7th Infantry Brigade commander, expressed thanks for the governor’s enduring concerned and support for the Philippine Army. (Freddie C. Velez)

Antipolo starts May pilgrimage

ANTIPOLO CITY – Order and security is now the high priority in this city as thousands of devotees to the Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage hit the streets once again for the traditional motorcade and “Alay Lakad” to Quiapo Church and back, signaling the start of Maytime pilgrimages. Supt. Rodino Elfa, chief of police, said pilgrims, called “tanglaw,’ will start the motorcade escorting the adored image of the Blessed Virgin Mary from the Antipolo Cathedral at 7 a.m. today to Quiapo in Manila.

After a late afternoon mass at Quaipo Church today, the devotees will escort the pilgrim image on foot until they reach the Antipolo Cathedral by around 5 a.m. tomorrow. (Nel B. Andrade)

Hopes up with new cop chief

ANGELES CITY – Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan is pinning high hopes on a significant improvement in peace and order in this city with the assumption of Senior Superintendent Rodolfo Recomono as new director of the Angeles City Police Office (CPO). In simple rites held at Camp Tomas Pepito, here, on Thursday, Pamintuan witnessed Sr. Supt. Melchor Reyes turn over the leadership of the Angeles CPO to Recomono.

While Pamintuan pledged logistical support to the CPO, he tasked Recomono to ensure the security and safety of citizens; order in traffic; and the highest conduct of all police officers. (Franco G. Regala)

2 quakes hits north Luzon

SINAIT, Ilocos Sur – Two tectonic earthquakes were recorded in Northern Luzon yesterday but they were too weak to be felt or cause any damage or casualties, state seismologists said. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said the first tremor at 5:37 a.m. had a 4.1 magnitude strength and epicenter 53 kilometers northwest of Burgos, Ilocos Norte, with a depth of 14 kilometers.

The second happened at 8:30 a.m. at a magnitude of 3.1 and epicenter at 58 kilometers southeast of Cauayan, Isabela with a depth of 23 kilometers. (Freddie G. Lazaro)

Lucena raises blood bags

LUCENA CITY – This city’s frontline team in addressing local disasters launched yesterday its bloodletting and blood typing program dubbed “Type Kita Talaga,” with the target of collecting 2,300 bags of blood from one percent of this city’s population.

The Lucena City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (LCDRRMC) kicked off the program by collecting 20 bags of blood from donors in the Bureau of Fire and Protection, Task Force Lucena, Lucena City College, Philippine Coast Guard, City Social Welfare and Development Office, and City Health Office. (Danny Estacio)