LINGAYEN, Pangasinan — Capitol officials and employees are not holding their traditional Christmas get-together this year and, instead, donate their party budget to families ravaged by typhoon “Pablo” in Mindanao. The cancellation of the traditional Christmas Dinner and Fellowship of elected local government unit (LGU) officials and Employees’ Christmas Party, slated on December 17 and 20, respectively, was cancelled thru a memorandum issued by Gov. Amado T. Espino. The memo stated that “the funds earmarked for the conduct of said events will be donated to the victims of the super typhoon,” particularly in Davao Oriental, and Compostela Valley. (Liezle Basa Iñigo)

GREEN INHERITANCE

CALUMPIT, Bulacan — Bulacan Governor Wilhelmino M. Sy-Alvarado renewed yesterday his call for a clean and green environment in every community in the province as caretakers of the world to be inherited by future generations. “Let’s work for an environment for sustainable life filled with hope and give our descendants a future of promise,” said the governor in Filipino. “Let’s stop cutting down trees, digging up forests and other activities that harm the ecological balance to avoid potential tragedies like what happened in Mindanao,” he added. (Freddie C. Velez)

O.F.W. TREATS

LUCENA CITY, Quezon — Saluting the biggest contributors to the nation’s economy — the overseas Filipino workers (OFW’s), SM City Lucena has lined up special treats for OFWs returning in this province for the holidays. SM City Public Relations Manager Lilibeth Azores revealed that the mall is honoring OFWs through its “Pamaskong Handog sa mga OFW's” on December 21. Azores said the project is in line with the mall’s Global Pinoy Center (GPC), a special haven and exclusive membership for the OFW and their relatives for their convenience while waiting for their love ones when doing shopping. “Local artists will entertain our unsung heroes and have a chance to win in the raffle extravaganza,” she said. (Danny Estacio)

LOG BOLTS

UMINGAN, Pangasinan — With the continuing campaign to protect the forests, the Pangasinan Police Provincial Office (PPO) confiscated recently log bolts of acacia tree loaded on an Isuzu Forward truck in Barangay Dakit, here, police reported yesterday. From a tip by a concern citizen, police located the truck with license plates RDA-302 and arrested its driver, Marlon Busalpa, of legal age, and a resident of Gen. Tenio, Nueva Ecija. The 20 log bolts of acacia tree were about to be transported to Madrigal Woodcraft in Plaridel, Bulacan, when police intercepted and seized the hot logs. (Liezle Basa Iñigo)

ANTIPOLO SANTAS

ANTIPOLO CITY, Rizal — Employees of the Business Permit and Licensing Office (BPLO) acted as Santas to the dozens of kids of an orphanage in this city during a gift-giving activity. The entire personnel shared their blessings with some 40 children who are under the care of the Missionaries of Charity at Good Shepherd Subdivision in this city recently. Dubbed as “Handog Pasko Para sa Mga Bata”, the Christmas party with the children of the orphanage run by the sisters of the Missionaries of Charity, was organized by BPLO head, Salvador Maniquiz. (Nel B. Andrade)