LAOAG CITY – Bishop Rene Mayugba was formally installed as the new prelate of the Diocese of Laoag by Papal Nuncio Giuseppe Pinto in a simple ceremony held last Tuesday at the Saint William Cathedral in this city. Thousands of local residents, Catholic devotees, and clergies from Ilocos Sur, La Union, and Pangasinan attended the concelebrated mass during the installation rites. Bishop Mayugba, who was born on December 4, 1955, in Manila, was chosen by the Vatican to fill-up the position vacated by Bishop Sergio Utleg, who was assigned as prelate of the Archdiocese of Cagayan. (Freddie Lazaro)

MARILAO EVENT

MARILAO, Bulacan – Catch the sparkling lights, fantastic blasts, and amazing colors and shapes on the much-awaited three-day spectacular fireworks display on December 15, 22, and 25 at the Parking-A of SM City here. Gladiz May Latiza, mall information officer here, announced this Wednesday afternoon as she also announced that the “Pamaskong Handog Para sa mga OFWs,” grandest salu-salo, and biggest gift-giving for OFWs brought by SM Global Pinoy Global Center and SM City Marilao will be held on December 21, at the mall’s Atrium. “Feel the Christmas spirit and let the Yuletide music accompany you while doing your Christmas shopping,” she added. (Freddie Velez)

ANTIPOLO PARK

ANTIPOLO CITY – The typical Filipino Christmas atmosphere is alive in this pilgrimage capital of the country, particularly at the city proper’s main promenade park. This developed after the Sumulong Park, once named as Dimasalang Park and is the city’s plaza, fronting the shrine of the Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage, has been transformed into a promenade park. Food stalls offering traditional Filipino Christmas delicacies like bibingka and puto bumbong can be found at the Sumulong Park, inviting passersby to stay for a while and enjoy the park’s two gazebos. (Nel Andrade)

HEALTH DRIVE

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga – The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) will include kidney transplant operation for patients with kidney problems since its Universal Health Care Coverage included medical operations regarding renal health care. This was confirmed by Dr. Cecilia Gonzales of the National Kidney and Transplant Institute during the “Kapihan sa Central Luzon” that focuses on Renal Health Care and Prevention Program of the national government. She added that dialysis is not always recommended since it does not replace the damaged kidney but only cleans the blood that flows through the patient’s body. (Jonas Reyes)

QUEZON PROJECT

ATIMONAN, Quezon – Local officials, civic groups, the business sector, and concerned residents held a dialogue here with the proponents of the proposed construction of the Liquefied Natural Gas-Fired Combined Cycle Power that will produce about between 1,500 to 1,700 megawatts. Quezon Governor David C. Suarez and Mayor Jose Mendoza together with the concerned sectors were briefed by Meralco PowerGen Corporation and Chubu Electric Power executives on the impact of the project to be implemented in a 83-hectare land in Barangay Villa Ibaba, this town. The proposed plant will be an additional source of energy for the Luzon grid. (Danny Estacio)