DAGUPAN CITY, Pangasinan, Philippines — Former President Fidel V. Ramos said recently the Dawel River Cruise here represents a better future for this city’s tourism industry. “This river cruise represents our cruising towards a better future.”

During his visit, Ramos called for unity and solidarity among the city’s officials and residents so that the river cruise could be at par with the same floating restaurant pioneered by Bohol. “If we are united in purpose, solid in values of hard work, honesty, responsibility, love of God, country, and people and work as a team, this river cruise will have a better future,” said the former president. (Liezle Basa Iñigo)

Christmas event launched at SM

STA. ROSA CITY, Laguna — It was a glittering event as kids and adults of all ages gathered together as they witnessed the unveiling of its Christmas centerpiece to usher the start of the holiday season at the activity area at SM City, here.

 The Sindaw Philippine Dance Company opened the event with their fluid dance movements accompanied by the angelic voices of Symphonies as they sang "Christmas, Christmas,” the SM malls’ official Christmas jingle. Mayor Arlene Arcillas, Vice Mayor Gomez and Mr. Dominador Caringal, SM Sta. Rosa’s Mall Manager, graced the event. (Ferdinand F. Castro)

PUP youth camp in Ecija

CAMP AQUINO, Tarlac City — At least 70 college students from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) participated in the 3-day Joint College Youth Camp held at the Junior Campo Santo Niňo II, in San Jose City, Nueva Ecija, on November 11-13.

 The 2011-2012 Core Group of KILOS!-PUP is a university-wide socio-political organization inside PUP that advocates “moving away from the practices of ‘destructive activism.’” The PUP Joint College Youth Camp/Youth Leadership Summit carried the theme: “One Language, One Communication: In Pursuit of Student Leadership Excellence.” (Franco G.Regala)

BAR monitors 3 agri projects

The Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) has monitored three projects in Region 4-A under its community-based participatory action research (CPAR) program.

The CPAR projects visited were: 1) CPAR on green corn-yellow corn + cassava + cattle Integrated Farming Systems in Upland Areas in Calamba, Laguna; 2) CPAR on citrus-based farming system (pummelo + vegetables + native chicken) in Rosario, Batangas; and 3) CPAR on organic farming technology for coffee-based farming system (coffee + blackpepper + banana + papaya + native chicken) in Alfonso, Cavite.

These projects, implemented by the Southern Tagalog Integrated Agricultural Research Center (STIARC), are supervised by the Department of Agriculture (DA). (Marvyn N. Benaning)

Filariasis drive up in Quezon

LUCENA CITY, Quezon — The local health department office here has identified seven towns infected with filariasis, an infectious parasitic disease caused by thread-like filarial nematodes (roundworms).

The Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO) and Department of Health (DoH) upon instruction of Quezon Governor David C. Suarez conducted a massive drug administration campaign against the disease, starting on November 14.
The campaign for the next five years aims at putting an end to the disease. (Danny Estacio)