BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — More than 4,335 mountain climbers from the different parts of the country joined the historic Freedom Climb over the weekend in a feat with claimed broke the long-standing world record on the number of people that simultaneously climbed mountains.

Based on the partial and unofficial results reaching the organizers, the 4,335 figure only accounts for climbers that went up 37 of the 76 mountains in the country under the Freedom Climb. The Guinness record to break is 601 people who climbed 16 mountains simultaneously in the United Kingdom and Ireland, said Baguio City Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan. (Dexter A. See)

Rizal honored in schools' run

DAGUPAN CITY — In line with the celebration of the 150th birth anniversary of Dr. Jose P. Rizal on June 19, the Division of City Schools here will join the simultaneous holding of the National Fun Run for Education dubbed “Every Runner, A Finisher, A Winner.”

City Schools Superinterndent Alma Ruby C. Torio said the fun run aims to involve all concerned community stakeholders in remembering the greatness of the national hero. “No registration fee is required (for the fun run), but instead a pledge form of desired donations like school supplies, classroom furniture, educational equipment, and classrooms will be accepted. (Liezle Basa Iñigo)

Cops find stolen truck empty

CAMP GEN. VICENTE LIM, Laguna — An abandoned truck found on the national highway in Barangay Talaga, Tanauan City, Batangas last Saturday night turned out to be the vehicle hijacked in Laguna for some P1.4 million worth of Nestle products, police reported Monday.

Supt. Arnel Escobal, Highway Patrol Group (HPG) 4-A chief, said the Isuzu Wing Van was bound for Barangay San Miguel in Sto. Tomas, Batangas when hijacked by gunmen in Barangay Makiling, Calamba City earlier that same day. None of the goods was recovered but a hunt for the suspects in now under way. (Ferdinand F. Castro)

SK gives away school supplies

BAGAC, Bataan – The Sangguniang Kabataan Federation of Bataan launched this week its “Back to i-Skool” project to assist students in their school needs.

SK Federation Bataan and National President Louise Gabriel “Gabz” del Rosario said each of the 980 beneficiaries of the project in elementary schools in Bagac, Pilar, Morong, Hermosa, Samal, Orani, and Balanga City, received a school bag containing a set of notebooks, pencils, eraser, sharpener, ruler, paste, crayons, scissors, a drinking bottle, and a raincoat. (Mar T. Supnad)

Studies of Aeta kids ensured

BATIAWAN, Zambales — The provincial government of Zambales has ensured that every indigenous child will have access to free education, even if it means trekking to remote areas in the province. Governor Hermogenes Ebdane Jr., the provincial government is doing everything it can to help indigenous students get proper education by providing them with classrooms and school supplies needed for the coming school year.

“We have already refurbished the burned school here in Batiawan and have added additional classrooms for the growing number of students. We will also provide Aeta kids free lunch so they won’t have to go home every lunch time,” Ebdane said. (Jonas Reyes)