ANGELES CITY, Pampanga, Philippines — The Center for Kapampangan Studies (CKS) of Holy Angel University (HAU) honored last weekend a known poet who hails from Lubao town. Delfin Turla Quiboloy, was represented by his family, in accepting the gold crown of laurel leaves as a symbol of dignity. Poet Quiboloy was cited for his big contribution to the birth and revitalization of Kapampangan literature in the province. Quiboloy is a poet laureate who was a premier educator and playwright from the 1960s to the 1980s. He was one of the founders of “Aguman Ding Talasulat Kapampangan o AGTAKA,” which is a league of Kapampangan writers. He died in 1999. (Franco G. Regala)

New Pilar town hall opened

PILAR, Bataan — Pilarians have all the reason to be proud with the opening of their new municipal hall which now stands as the biggest in the province. “I am proud to be called a ‘Pilarian’ because of our fast-growing economic development such as the establishment of our new municipal hall, the flaming sword, the zip line and the putting up of the Bataan Government center which is now making money,” said Mayor Charlie Pizarro. A total of P37 million will be spent for the complete renovation of the Municipal Hall and the historic flaming sword, a symbol of Pilar’s heroism. (Mar T. Supnad)

Jobs fair

ANTIPOLO CITY, Rizal — Hundreds of job applicants are optimistic that the recent job fair organized by the local government here over the weekend will produce additional employment for the city’s jobless and underemployed residents. This came as City Mayor Danilo Leyble through the office of Public Employment Services Office continues to invite and encourage private companies based in this city to provide more jobs starting this year of the water dragon. Recently, more than 300 job applicants have been screened and interviewed by SM Department Store in Masinag alone during the job fair. Dozens of jobless applicants also lined up and submitted themselves for initial interview and screening for overseas employment by the YHMD International Manpower Services. (Nel B. Andrade)

DWAD celebrates lunar new year

DAGUPAN CITY, Pangasinan — A Filipino-Chinese school here, Divine Word Academy of Dagupan (DWAD), will hold its own celebration of the Chinese New Year slated on January 20. DWAD will observe the festivity on the 20th of the month instead of the 23rd, the actual date of the lunar new year since the date was declared as a special non-working day in the country. A thanksgiving mass at the St. Therese Parish Church at 7:30 a.m. will be officiated by Rev. Fr. Edsel Demillo, SVD. A program will follow at the Schmitz Hall, the school’s gym, at 9:30 a.m., Co Heng Wue, the Chinese Department coordinator, said. (Liezle Basa Iñigo)

Olongapo BPLO sets pay dates

The Olongapo City government’s Business Permit and Licensing Office (BPLO) is urging business owners to renew their permits earlier than the deadline which is on Jan. 31, 2012. “Please file your applications for renewal before the deadline to avoid the rush and penalties,” said Neal Perez, head of BPLO, “Failure to renew your business on January 31 means that there would be a 25% surcharge and 2% interest per month on amounts due,” he added.