MANILA, Philippines — Thursday (November 17) marks the second death anniversary of Olongapo’s first woman mayor and Pearl S. Buck International awardee Amelia J. Gordon whose humanitarian service had touched numerous lives and served as inspiration to other social workers.

Founder of the Olongapo chapter of the Philippine National Red Cross, Ms. Gordon was mother to former Senator Richard Gordon and incumbent Olongapo Mayor James “Bong” Gordon, Jr. She was elected mayor in 1969 following the assassination of her husband James Sr. who fought for Olongapo’s independence from the Americans and was responsible for its cityhood in 1966. (Franco G. Regala)

Medical mission

LINGAYEN,Pangasinan — Medical group composed of 60 persons from Guam conducted a medical mission to the indigent of Pozorrubio last Nov 15 and in Nov 14 Federation of Pangasinenses on Guam together with the provincial health office performed same at Natividad benefitting 1,000 indigent.

The benefeciaries were handpicked by their respective barangay chairmen. The medical mission is a part of a program of the government to strenghten health programs especially to the poor populace of the province. And the medical mission is a part of sisterhood ties that is being established by Guam with the province of Pangasinan. (Liezle Basa Inigo)

Rice land

CANDABA, Pampanga — At least 30,000 hectares of fishing grounds in this town are set to be converted into rice lands as fishpond operators suffered tremendous losses due to massive flooding brought about by typhoons and a recent attack by turtles.

Jojo Paguinto, Municipal Agricultural and Fisheries (MAF), said that most of the fishpond operators who have decided to convert their land into rice farms came from Barangay
Lanang as they suffered millions of pesos in losses due to typhoons and the “Turtle Phenomenon.” Paguinto said the conversion is the most practical thing to do as fishing industry is continuously dying due unpredictable weather condition and other natural causes as result of climate change. (Mark Anthony N. Manuel)

Zambales visit

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT — Officials of the Chinese Association for International Understanding (CAFIU) recently met with Zambales Governor Hermogenes Ebdane Jr., Vice Gov. Ramon Lacbain, and SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia to exchange cultural and developmental ideas as part of their mission to promote international understanding.

The visit of the group, which was headed by CAFIU vice president Zhu Dacheng, was facilitated by Lacbain who visited China last May under an international exchange program between CAFIU and the Philippine Center of Young Leaders in Governance (PCYL). (Jonas Reyes)

Searca anniversary

The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) will celebrate its 45th anniversary from November 21 to 25 at the University of the Philippines at Los Baños (UPLB.) SEARCA is the center for agriculture of the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO), of which the Philippines is a charter member.

 Established in 1966, SEARCA is mandated to provide capacity building interventions to promote agricultural and rural development in the region through its core programs of graduate scholarship, research and development and knowledge management. (Marvyn N. Benaning)