SAN FERNANDO CITY, Pampanga, Philippines – Residents in the cities of Angeles, San Fernando and some parts of Pampanga have been advised to prepare for an eight-hour power interruption. Atty. Cynthia P. Alabanza, spokesperson of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), said the company has served notice of the scheduled shutdown on Monday, Jan. 9, of some of its transmission facilities which will affect the distribution of power supply in the cities areas of Angeles, San Fernando and some parts of Mexico town as part of the improvement, repairs and maintenance along AEC 69kV line of the North Luzon Substation Upgrading Project at Mexico Substation in province. (Franco G. Regala)

Coco Festival

SAN PABLO CITY, Laguna – City Mayor Vicente Amante, Vice Mayor Angie Yang and City Administrator Loreto Amante led the nine-day celebration of the 17th Coco Festival here Saturday. The kick-off celebration witnessed by local and foreign tourists on Saturday started with the Pre-Pageant of Munting Lakan at Mutya at the SM City Atrium and the United Pastoral Council Night event at the town plaza. Fireworks display will be held Sunday, and the much-awaited event, Coco Street Dancing Competition, Float Parade and Coco Carnival Queen, Board Member Angelica Jones night and San Miguel Brewery Inc. night will be held on Jan. 13. (Ferdinand F. Castro)

Blind appeal

RIZAL PROVINCE – A band composed of members based in this province who are either visually impaired or physically handicapped is appealing for donors who would want to invite them to hear their performances. Liza Magallanes, a blind woman who serves as temporary leader of the still unnamed band based in Antipolo City, said she is hoping that kind-hearted private groups or individuals will invite them so that they can earn a decent living without having to resort to asking for alms in the streets. Magallanes and her co-musicians are former street performers who earn a living by asking for donations during their playing of the musical instruments when they go from one place to another, including entrances of churches, markets, or any public places. (Nel Andrade)

Coffee growers

CANDELARIA, Quezon (PIA) – The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) organized a forum for coffee growers recently as a step to boost the coffee industry in the province. About 30 coffee growers from the towns of Candelaria and Sariaya attended the forum. Philip Oliveros, trade and industry development specialist of DTI-Quezon, said the forum aims to improve coffee production, increase earnings of coffee farmers and strengthen the coffee industry in the province.

Housing program

ANTIPOLO CITY, Rizal (PIA) – In its capacity to further improve the comprehensive and continuing urban development and housing program in the city as well as uplift the conditions of the underprivileged and homeless citizens, Mayor Nilo Leyble signed a memorandum of agreement for the purchase of 1,000 sq. m lot in Sitio Pandayan, Barangay Inarawan, this city. Urban Settlement and Development Office head Leticia Tanzon said the lot was purchased through direct purchase from Francisco Baylon, costing P550,000 at a selling price of P550.00/sq. meter in favor of Pandayan Hillside Beneficiaries Association Inc. represented by its president, Jennifer Dano.