MANILA, Philippines — Several religious organizations such as the Order of the Salesians of Don Bosco, founded by Saint John Bosco in 1859 and named in honor of Saint Francis de Sales, as well as a number of missionary groups, Catholic churches, seminaries, and schools will hold commemorative rites Tuesday in remembrance of the feast of their patron, Saint Francis de Sales. Venerated as the patron of journalists and writers, the French saint founded the Order of the Visitation of the Holy Mother together with Saint Jane Frances Chantal, Born in 1567 in Savoy, France, St. Francis was a well-loved preacher, confessor, and charity worker. Ordained priest in 1593, he was appointed bishop of Geneva, Switzerland, during the 17th century and was able to convert thousands to the faith through his effective preaching. (Christina I. Hermoso)

Senior exemption

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said it will review the proposal of a Quezon City councilor to exempt senior citizens in Quezon City from the number-coding scheme. Apart from the agency, Tina Velasco, assistant general manager for planning, said members of the Metro Manila Council, composed of Metro manila mayors, would also have to look into the said proposal. “It may be just a local ordinance but MMDA chairman Francis Tolentino with the Metro manila mayors will have to look into the rationale behind the scheme and have to discuss the implementation. The chairman is more than willing to listen and open to suggestions,” Velasco said. (Anna Liza T. Villas)

Oil pricing

Malacañang Monday said the Department of Energy (DoE) will be investigating oil firms that may have not implemented the proper oil price rollback. “Number one, those are going to be investigated by a committee set up by DoE. That’s been announced so they would be in the process of determining the operations of the other gas companies,” Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said. He also said transport groups have already been oriented by the DoE on how to compute oil prices. “The computation of the prices has always been open and transparent, they have been informed how to do the computation, that’s something that they can always do on their own,” Lacierda said. (Madel R. Sabater)

Appeal mulled

The government is not yet resting its case against the late President Ferdinand Marcos, former first lady Imelda Marcos, former trade minister Roberto Ongpin, and former Armed Forces chief-of-staff Fabian Ver and 18 others for organizing the so-called “Binondo Central Bank” in the 1980s. The Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) said it will question the Sandiganbayan’s recent decision junking the P50-billion suit against the Marcos couple and their cohorts. PCGG commissioner for litigation Gerard Mosquera said they will coordinate with the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) on whether to file a motion for reconsideration with Sandigan or an appeal to a higher court. (Kris Bayos)

Landmine blast

BATANGAS – Four members of Philippine Air Force (PAF) were wounded when a suspected landmine exploded in an ambush stage in Nasugbu, Batangas, on Sunday afternoon. Injured and taken to Nasugbu Doctors Hospital were Sgt. Philip Raniola, Sgt. Joel Salles, Sgt. Virodec Bobil, and a certain Airman Valdez. They all sustained slight injuries from shrapnel. (Ferdinand F. Castro and Danny Estacio)