LUCENA CITY, Quezon — Friday is a special non-working holiday in the province in commemoration of the 170th death anniversary of Apolinario de la Cruz, the hero also known as “Hermano Puli.”

Born on July 23, 1814 in Lucban, Quezon, Hermano Puli founded the Confradia de San Jose, a brotherhood organization with 10,000 members, after he was rejected by friars from entering priesthood because he was a Filipino.
Accused of sedition by Spanish priests, Puli was killed and his body mutilated. Quezon Governor David C. Suarez will lead commemorative rites at Puli’s shrine in Barangay Isabang, Tayabas City. (Danny Estacio)

Free masons give school supplies

CANDELARIA, Zambales — Members of the Order of the Secret Monitor (OSM) donated some 200 sets of school bags, school supplies, and pairs of slippers to students in two remote barangays in the towns of Sta. Cruz and Candelaria as part of their outreach program. 

OSM Pearl of the Orient Conclave no. 496 chief Supreme Ruler Reynato Puno Jr., son of former Chief Justice Reynato Puno, led the group as they conducted the Zambales mission in coordination with Governor Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. who is also a member of the Masonic fraternity. (Jonas Reyes)

Outbreak contained

TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan — The reported outbreak of diarrhea in Barangay Sta. Maria, Gonzaga town, this province, is already contained by the health workers, authorities reported Thursday. Dr. Lowie Sunico, Gonzaga town’s health officer, said the diarrhea outbreak was controlled following the application of several preventive measures in the area.

Sunico said the number of victims reached as high as 167, with most of them in the age range of 22 to 30. Authorities have not yet concluded its investigation on the source of the bacteria that downed the scores of residents in the said barangay. (Freddie G. Lazaro)

10 establishments get Gold Awards

SAN FERNANDO CITY, Pampanga — In recognition of their fair business practice and for upholding the rights and welfare of their consumers, ten more establishments in Central Luzon have received Bagwis Gold Awards from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

This brings the number of recipients in the region to a total of 154 stores. This has been the biggest number since the inception of the recognition in 2006. Central Luzon has registered the second highest in the entire archipelago after the National Capital Region. (Mark Anthony N. Manuel)

Calasiao mayor eyes birth station

CALASIAO, Pangasinan — Mayor Mark Roy Macanlalay said Thursday he plans to set up a P4-million birth station that will cater to the needs of women giving birth with no support from the fathers who sired their children.

Macanlalay said he hopes to have the birthing station operational by next year in a bid to provide better healthcare to pregnant women who have to face all the expenses of giving birth alone.

He has instructed the Rural Health Unit here to monitor the health of all expectant mothers and provide them with free pre-natal checkup for their and their children’s wellbeing. (Liezle Basa Iñigo)