MASINLOC, Zambales — The municipality of Masinloc is aiming to be a tourism education center as it markets itself as an ecological tour destination of Zambales. Dubbed as the Masinloc Ecotour Program, the town is offering a package tour where guests can go around the Masinloc Taklobo Farm, Mangrove Island, go scuba diving and snorkeling at the 127 hectare San Salvador Sanctuary. The tour also gives visitors a chance to sample some of the best local seafood cuisine along with seaweeds, vegetables and fruits the town is known for. (Jonas Reyes)

ELDERLY AID

ANGELES CITY, Pampanga — At least 106 senior citizens here received financial assistance from the city government as part of its social pension program, the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) reported yesterday. “The city government is allocating an amount of P500 monthly for each beneficiary and is distributed quarterly. Today, we will be giving each recipients an amount of P1,500 as compensation for this quarter,” CSWDO Head Heide Patio said. Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan, who led the distribution of the cash assistance, said recipients are citizens aged 77 and above. (Franco G. Regala)

PLARIDEL DAY

BULAKAN, Bulacan — Hundreds of Bulakeños including students from different schools in this province joined the celebration of the 162th birth anniversary of one of the country’s most endearing heroes – Gat Marcelo H. del Pilar, also known as “Plaridel,” yesterday.  Governor Wilhelmino M. Sy-Alvarado and Bulakan Mayor Patrick Meneses led the special rites in Plaridel’s honor at the Dambanang Marcelo H. del Pilar in Barangay San Nicolas, here, as a special non-working holiday was observed in the province. Theme of the occasion was “Tapang at Talas ng Panulat ni Marcelo, Inspirasyon sa Pagbabago” and the guests of honor: Aurora Rep. Juan Edgardo Angara, National Historical Commission of the Philippines Executive Director Ludovico Badoy, Paombong Mayor Donato Marcos, and Chief Supt. Edgardo T. Ladao. (Freddie C. Velez)

PEER COUNSELING

IMUS CITY, Cavite — The Peer Counseling Group established by the Imus Diocese is starting to help address depression among troubled individuals and veer them away from thoughts of ending their lives in this province. “The door of Our Lady of Pillar Cathedral, the seat of Imus Diocese-Cavite, is open to all individuals seeking moral and spiritual counseling,” said Father Adrian Rañola, one of four members of the cathedral’s Team Ministry which created the peer counseling group. The group seeks to curb the increasing number of suicides as recorded by the Cavite Police Provincial Office (PPO), the latest of which was a jobless 47-year-old man who hanged himself in Barangay Bacao, General Trias last Monday. (Anthony Giron)

H.S. DORMITORY

TAYABAS CITY, Quezon — A three-storey dormitory will be constructed by the provincial government for school scholars of the Quezon Science High School (QSHS), school directress Ezel Orogo said yesterday. Orogo bared the plan after the groundbreaking rites at the site of the dormitory in Barangay Isabang, here, was led last Wednesday by Quezon Governor David C. Suarez and Department of Education (DepEd) Schools Superintendent for Quezon Tolentino Aquino. The dormitory will accommodate both male and female scholars and the same building will also house six classrooms. She said. (Danny Estacio)