CANDABA, Pampanga — Thousands turned up for the first fluvial procession in Pampanga River on Monday, which highlighted the 60th founding anniversary of the Crusade of Penance and Charity. Pampanga Governor Lilia G. Pineda did not miss the fluvial procession in devotion to the Virgen delos Remedios and Sto. Cristo del Perdon that passed through the towns of Candaba, San Luis, San Simon, and Apalit. Archbishop Paciano Aniceto also graced the momentous event that saw 52 bancas joining the procession, said Candaba Mayor Jerry Pelayo. (Franco G. Regala)

Biñan Scholars

BIÑAN CITY, Laguna — More than three hundred new college students received a full scholarship after they passed the examination given by the city government for qualification to Mayor Marlyn “Lenlen” Alonte’s free education program. Out of more than 1,600 students who took the exam, only 341 students passed and may now enroll in any course they wanted in the six colleges and universities in the city, including the University of Perpetual Help System and St. Michaels College of Laguna. Alonte has funded her “Iskolar ng Biñan” program with P70 million. (Ferdinand F. Castro)

Hapinoy Program

MALOLOS CITY, Bulacan — Fifty female sari-sari store owners from the different parts of the province will undergo the pilot test of Hapinoy Program which aims to strengthen the micro enterprises and help them to sustain their businesses. This will happen as Bulacan Gov. Wilhelmino M. Sy Alvarado, PESO Phil Chairman Elizabeth Alonzo together with MicroVentures Foundation sign the memorandum of agreement to launch the Hapinoy Program in Bulacan which will be held on May 22 at 2 p.m. in the Hiyas ng Bulacan Convention Center. “Part of the program is training the store owners to develop values, skills, and networks that can help them to be more successful in their business,” said Alvarado. (Freddie C. Velez)

No Overloading

SAN FERNANDO CITY, Pampanga — In a bid to effectively and efficiently intensify its implementation of Republic Act No. 8794, the provincial government conducted a one-day seminar on the deputation of concerned personnel of Kapampangan a Lulugud at Matapat (KALAM), the implementing arm of quarry operations in the province on the anti-overloading law. The activity aimed to provide the participants with adequate knowledge on the anti-overloading law. The Capitol has acquired six weighing scales for the strict enforcement of the law in coordination with the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). (Franco G. Regala)

‘B.P.O. City’ In Subic Planned

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT, Zambales — Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman Roberto V. Garcia foresees a bright future for the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry in this free port now that it has all the infrastructure and facilities needed for such ventures. Speaking recently in Olongapo City, Garcia said that his management team is planning to establish a fully-developed “BPO City” inside the Subic Freeport where local information technology (IT) workers can thrive. Garcia explained that the future of BPO and other IT businesses in Subic has become very promising after the Philippines had surpassed India in the field as the most attractive area for BPO investors. (Jonas Reyes)