MANILA, Philippines — “Abstinence is not just about foregoing eating meat. It should also mean abstaining from things that one normally enjoy,” Legazpi (Albay) Bishop Joel Baylon reminded the Catholic faithful on Wednesday, Ash Wednesday, the first of the 40-day Lenten season in the country.

“Part of the sacrifice means abstaining from vices that affect the health, avoiding pleasurable activities, as well as refraining from consuming one’s favorite food and drinks or lessening the proportion of his normal intake to find more meaning in the sacrifice and make it a heart-felt one,” he said in an article posted in the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) website.
(Christina Hermoso)

Nightsticks

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has started arming its traffic enforcers with nightsticks or batons for self-defense and to help protect themselves from abusive motorists after an enforcer was attacked by a group of drag racers they have accosted recently.

However, only those traffic enforcers implementing the crackdown against illegal drag racing along Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard would be initially provided with nightsticks or batons, said MMDA Traffic Discipline Czar Atty. Yves Gonzalez. “Fifteen traffic enforcers assigned at the Macapagal Avenue will be armed with nightsticks or batons to protect themselves from potential assailants even without handguns,” said Gonzales. (Anna Liza Villas)

Tourism Minister

The Malaysian Minister for Tourism arrived in the country Wednesday afternoon to learn from one of the country's better-known garden resorts and adopt the idea in their country so that they could offer an innovative form of tourism destination. Her Excellency Dato Sri Dr. Ng Yen Yen, Malaysia’s Tourism Minister, arrived from Kuala Lumpur Wednesday afternoon together with a team of Malaysian tour operators and travel writers.

They later brought them to Sonya’s Garden in Tagaytay City, Cavite to observe and write about the innovative tourist destination. Dr. Ng Yen Yen said she was enthralled by the beauty of Sonya’s Garden when she first visited the country last November and that she would like to adopt the idea of the garden resorts in her country. (Anjo Perez)

Impact

Increasing the number of legislated holidays will have a negative impact in the country’s economy, the Department of Labor and Employment said Wednesday. Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz made the statement amid the pending bills in Congress for nine new holidays.

These include the commemoration of Chinese New Year, Tandang Sora Day, Founding of Katipunan, Corazon Aquino’s Natal Day, National Heroes Day, Iglesia ni Kristo Day, Corazon Aquino Day, National Teacher’s Day, and Filipino Day of Goodwill or Boxing Day. Baldoz urged the Congress to reconsider in passing these bills since it will reduce the income of some companies and workers. (Samuel Medenilla)

Sympathies

Members of the House minority and majority blocs Wednesday extended their sympathies to the family of the late former ambassador and Leyte Gov. Benjamin “Kokoy” T. Romualdez, whose sister and son are both members of the chamber.

Deputy Minority Leader Ma. Milagros “Mitos” Magsaysay and Reps. Bernadette Herrera-Dy (Bagong Henerasyon); Mark Llandro Mendoza (NPC, Batangas); Winston Castelo (LP, Quezon City); Alfredo Benitez (NPC, Negros Occidental); Ben Evardone (LP, Eastern Samar) and Elmer Panotes (Lakas-Kampi-CMD, Camarines Sur) called for prayers for the eternal repose of the soul of Romualdez. (Ben Rosario)