CROWN AWARD

VIGAN  CITY  —  This heritage city has won the national “Consistent Regional Outstanding Winner on Nutrition” (CROWN) after being cited for its  outstanding nutrition program implementation for Region over three consecutive years from 2009 to 2011. In a letter to Mayor Eva Marie S. Medina, National Nutrition Council Executive Director Maria Bernardita T. Flores said that the CROWN award for 2011 is being conferred on Vigan City on the recommendation by the inter-agency Regional Nutrition Evaluation Team (RNET). “As CROWN awardee, Vigan City will receive a cash award amounting to P250,000.00 during the national nutrition awarding ceremony on November 9, 2012 at the ceremonial hall of Malacañang Palace,” Flores said. (Freddie Lazaro)

LANTERN CONTEST

SAN PABLO CITY, Laguna — Tourism Officer Lavinia Nunag announces that ”PASCOCOHAN 2012” a Lantern Making Contest will be held on December 3 at the City Plaza, as part of the annual Christmas Lightning Ceremony and the prelude to the upcoming Cocofestival 2013.  The event is open to all public and private high schools and colleges in this city with one entry from each participating schools. Entry must made up of coconut materials (50 percent) and non-coco materials (50 percent) and measuring not more than 1 meter in length, width and depth.  Winners will be judged on Originality & Relevance (25 percent), Creativity & Artistry (25 percent), Presentation (25 percent) and Materials (25 percent). (Ferdinand F. Castro)

CAGAYAN QUAKE 

SINAIT, Ilocos Sur — A weak tremor rocked an island in Cagayan province but this didn’t cause any damage to property,  according to a report from the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs)  here. Phivolcs said that a 3.7 magnitude quake occurred at 9:40 p.m. last Thursday with epicenter at 34 kilometers southwest of Calayan Island of Cagayan with a depth of 5 kilometers but no intensity was recorded. Phivolcs said the quake was tectonic in origin. (Freddie G. Lazaro)

JAPAN TRAINING

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan — Two provincial government officials were chosen by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to attend month-long Group Training Course on Promotion of SATOYAMA Initiative: Biodiversity Conservation and Development through the Sustainable Management of Natural Resources in Japan from October 15 to November 17.  Among the nominees from various local government units in the country, JICA accepted the nomination of Dr. Jerrim R. Blanco of OPVET-Pangasinan and Merlito A. Villar, ecosystem management specialist of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Region 3 in Pampanga. (Liezle Inigo)

RIDING MISHAP

CAMP PRESIDENT ELPIDIO QUIRINO, Ilocos Sur  — A drunk motorcycle driver died in a vehicular accident along the road in Barangay Cabigbigaan, Santo Domingo, Ilocos Sur during the celebration of All Saint’s Day last Thursday here. Police identified the victim as one Warlo Telete, 35, a resident from Barangay Flora, Santo Domingo, Ilocos Sur.  Investigation showed the victim, who was reportedly drunk, lost control of his motorcycle and hit a concrete wall. He was rushed to hospital where he was declared dead on arrival. (Freddie G. Lazaro)