MANILA, Philippines -- The Catholic Church celebrates today the feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary a day after the feast of the Sa-cred Heart of Jesus, in honor of the symbol of the Blessed Mother’s ardent love for her Son, Jesus, and her compassionate love for the human race. Masses will be held at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in UP Village, Diliman, Quezon City, at 6 a.m., 6:30 a.m., and 6 p.m. In many Catholic churches and Marian shrines, devotees will light candles, say their novena prayers, offer flowers, perform acts of devotion, and pray the rosary before the well- venerated image of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, which is often represented with a pierced heart. (Christina Hermoso)

Piat feast

MANILA, Philippines -- Saturday is the feast day of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary of Piat, the highly revered patroness of Cagayan Valley. Hundreds of devotees and pilgrims are expected to gather at the Basilica Minore de Piat in Tuguegarao, Cagayan, one of the top 10 pilgrimage destinations in the country, where hourly masses from early morning until the evening will be held.

There will also be a fluvial procession bearing the miraculous Marian image.

The Holy Hours will also be observed. Novena masses were held from June 23 to July 1, while the “Sambali” Festival in honor of Our Lady was held from June 23-30.

In Metro Manila, Our Lady of Piat devotees will gather for a special com-memorative mass on Saturday, July 9, at the Sto. Domingo Church on Quezon Avenue, Quezon City at 9 a.m. (Christina Hermoso)

Cancelled trip

MANILA, Philippines -- A day after delivering his first year achievements in office, President Aquino Friday cancelled his visit to flood-hit Pampanga without giving any reason.

But his deputy spokeswoman Abigail Valte quickly denied that the President’s political differences with former President Arroyo prompted the cancellation of the trip to her home province. Aquino was supposed to check the extent of the damage brought by storm Falcon in Pampanga at 10 a.m. Friday.

Afterwards, he was scheduled to distribute relief goods to the first 100 affected families at the San Jose Panlumacan Elementary School in San Fernando, Pampanga. (Genalyn Kabiling)

Ombudsman cited

Malacañang lauded Friday the move of the Office of the Ombudsman to junk the Motion for Reconsideration filed by former Agriculture Secretary Luis “Cito” Lorenzo and former Agriculture Undersecretary Jocelyn “Joc-Joc” Bolante on the plunder charges filed against them in connection with the P728-million fertilizer fund scam.

“It’s about time that something was done about this,” Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said Friday in a press briefing, noting that the fertilizer fund scam happened six years ago.

Asked if the Palace is satisfied with the move of the Office of the Ombudsman despite not including former President Arroyo, Valte said it is within the discretion of the Office of the Ombudsman to charge government officials, noting that it is an independent body. (Madel Sabater)

Solons inspired

Lawmakers were inspired with the accomplishments which President Aquino enumerated during the celebration of his first year in office.

Aurora Rep. Juan Edgardo Angara noted that the main factor behind the attainments during the first year of the Aquino administration is the chief executive’s mindset of being realistic in addressing the problems of corrupt governance and patience in changing the system. (Rio Rose Ribaya)