TRECE MARTIRES CITY, Cavite — Cavite 7th District Board Member Irene De Padua Bencito has filed a resolution supporting the so-called Baybayin Bill or “An Act Providing for the Protection and Conservation of Baybayin and Declaring Baybayin as the National Script of the Philippines.” Babayin is the ancient script of the Philippines. Also called Alibata, it is a writing system or alphabet that was used by the Filipinos before the arrival of the Spaniards up to the second century of their colonization. Baybayin or the old alphabet is composed of 17 basic characters --- three vowels and fourteen consonants. Only a few people knew the old script as it is on the brink of extinction. House Representative Leopoldo N. Bataoil filed the Baybayin Bill in 2011 in a bid to preserve the Filipino script from extinction. (Anthony Giron)

CONFISCATED

CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga — Government authorities have seized some 300 sacks of mining ores in a checkpoint along Maharlika Highway in Barangay Digdig in Carranglan, Nueva Ecija over the weekend, police here reported. Police said elements of the Nueva Ecija Provincial Public Safety Company (PPSC) based in San Jose City, led by PO3 Renato Pabia and PO2 Reynaldo Lastimosa, intercepted the two Fuso 10-wheeler covered trucks loaded with some 300 sacks of mineral ore, which were about to be shipped from Tuguegaragao, Cagayan, to Manila. (Mark Anthony N. Manuel)

BEAUTY QUEEN

ANGELES CITY, Pampanga — Pampanga has crowned the very first Lagu Ning Aeta (Aeta Beauty Queen) recently at the SM City Clark here. Ronagie Gilbert edged out 11 other candidates from different Aeta communities in the province. Queen Rose Marie Sibal, who brought home the best in traditional dance award, was first runner-up while Loretta Queddeng was second runner-up. Joannaliza Unjona bagged the Best Talent award. The pageant was participated in by 12 contestants from different sitios (barangay) which included Sitio Bilad, Sitio Pulang Lupa, Sitio Monicayao, Sitio Madapdap, Sitio Haduan, and Sitio Calapi. (Mark Anthony N. Manuel)

NEW BUILDINGS

MACABEBE, Pampanga — Four new school buildings in this province’s four towns were built through a public-private partnership with the Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. (FCCCII). The newly inaugurated school buildings, which are under the FCCCII’s “Barrio Schools Program," include the Batasan Elementary School here, Guemasan Elementary School (Arayat), Cabalantian National High School (Bacolor), and Sta. Maria Elementary School (Minalin). FCCCII officials led by Eddie Chua, together with some local officials here, recently inaugurated the buildings which seen to help ease crowding in schools. (Mark Anthony N. Manuel)

TREE-PLANTING

QUEZON — Some 22,000 people from 34 towns will plant two million mangroves for one day here on June 30. Webster Letargo, Provincial Government Chief of Staff, said that the event is in line with the environmental program of Governor David C. Suarez for the province. Based on the statistics released by Provincial Administrator and Acting PG –ENRO Chief Rommel Edano, at least 10,000 mangrove trees will be planted for every one hectare. (Danny Estacio)