VIGAN CITY, Ilocos Sur — Local residents and employees celebrate a special public holiday today to remember the 112th birth anniversary of the late President Elpidio Quirino. Ilocos Sur Governor Luis “Chavit” Singson cited yesterday as legal basis the Presidential Proclamation No. 1927 dated November 15, 1979 proclaiming November 16th of every year as a Special Public Holiday in the province of Ilocos Sur to commemorate the birth anniversary of the late President Quirino. Highlighting the celebration are the offering of concelebrated mass for the late President Quirino at the Saint Paul Metropolitan Cathedral and the awarding of the sole President Quirino Medalist for Outstanding Public Service to Miss Natividad Buenavista, among others. (Freddie G. Lazaro)

EARLY CHRISTMAS

CAMP RIZAL, Laguna — Some 400 street children were given  early Christmas gifts by the officers of the Laguna Police Provincial Office (PPO) in a simple party held at this camp yesterday. Senior Superintendent Fautso Manzanilla, Laguna PPO director, said the street children came from different towns of the province received clothes, toys, and foods from the Laguna police officers in partnereship with two fastfood chains. Manzanilla said the “Maagang Pamasko,” a gift-giving project aims to give simple joy to the unfortunate children. (Ferdinand Castro)

P.E.S.O. POWER

IBA, Zambales — The Public Employment Service Office (PESO) Zambales’ plan to attain institutionalizing all municipal PESOs in the province is nearing completion as 11 out of 13 towns signed an agreement for their full operations. Aiming to be the first in the country with 100 percent institutionalized PESOs, the Provincial Government headed by Governor Hermogenes E. Ebdane, Jr. with Vice Governor and Provinciall PESO Manager Ramon Lacbain II, the local executives and PESO Managers culminates the grand MOA Signing with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on Nov. 12 to finally ink an empowered employment facilitation system that will bring services closer to communities. Lacbain relates that institutionalizing the PESOs means powered-up service, as it will ease the process of facilitating programs and activities with the labor department and other institutions such as jobs fairs, recruitment activities, mobile passporting, livelihood programs and many others.

MALARIA DOWN

LUCENA CITY, Quezon — Malaria cases in the province are on a continuing decline as affirmed in a report of the Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO) of the Quezon Medical Center-Malaria Coordinating Office, here. Mario Cantos, malaria coordinator reported that based on 2009, malaria cases recorded about 364 throughout the province, while on 2010 recorded of 246 cases and it slowed down to 74 cases as recorded last 2011 and the latest of which was dropped to 17 cases only. This was the center of discussion on the Multi-Sectoral Forum for the Ipho- Malaria-QMC Queen Margarette Hotel. (Danny Estacio)

BINULO FESTIVAL

PORAC, Pampanga — Pampanga Governor Lilia G. Pineda and Mayor Condralito Dela Cruz led yesterday the 8th Binulu Festival celebration, highlighted by Aeta native cooking methods using bamboo poles. Around 7, 000 participated in this town annually celebration of Binulo festival, aims to preserve the native concept of their ancestral domain, which also participated by 29 barangays here. (Franco G. Regala)