BAGUIO CHILL

BAGUIO CITY — Citing how temperatures have dropped to as low as 11 degrees Celsius here yesterday, City Health Officials reminded residents and visitors to take extra care against acquiring respiratory diseases. Health authorities said holiday revelers should always wear jackets, scarves, and socks to avoid succumbing to cold-related illnesses. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) reported that Monday was the coldest day this December with the temperature dipping to 11 degrees Celcius. (Liezle Basa Iñigo)

L.P. FAVORED

BALANGA CITY, Bataan — Governor Enrique “Tet” Garcia is optimistic that the coalition of the Liberal Party and the National Unification Party in the provincial level will pull through victories for LP senatorial bets in next year’s polls. Garcia's opinion is shared by other political leaders in this city who believe the coalition is critical in boosting the chances of the LP bets. The NUP, headed by Garcia, and the LP, headed by Bataan 1st District Rep. Herminia Roman and Vice Governor Efren Pascual, Jr., forged a unification of their groups, further boosting their political bids. (Mar T. Supnad)

POLL: REGION 3 COMPUTER SAVVY

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga — The internet is used extensively by business establishments in Central Luzon in obtaining information about government organizations. This is just one of the results of the 2010 Survey on Information and Communication Technology conducted by the National Statistics Office (NSO). Out of the 89 establishments surveyed, 78% use the medium to get data about government agencies and 74.5% request for government forms using the internet. Businesses have also seen the necessity of maintaining their company website for operations. Region 3 recorded 31% of establishments have their company websites. Also in the region, 12% use e-commerce in doing business in receiving and placing orders over the internet and other computer networks. (PIA)

MODEL STUDENTS

LEGAZPI CITY, Albay — Two Bicolano students have successfully qualified in the top 20 finalists for Jose Rizal Model Students of the Philippines as announced in the 50th National Rizal Youth Leaders Institute Conference recently at Teacher’s Camp, Baguio City. They are Emil P. Lim of Divine Word College of Legazpi and Javier Leonardo V. Rugeria of Ateneo de Naga University. Lim, a graduating Management and Accountancy major and student leader at the Word College of Legazpi, joined the Japan East Asia Network of Exchange for Students and Youth program last May 2012. Rugeria, on the other hand, is not only a student leader but a musician whose band had performed in concerts of True Faith and The Bloomfields in Naga City. (PIA)

GIFT-GIVING

SOLANO, Nueva Vizcaya — At least 50 families here received assorted gift items from the members of the Nueva Vizcaya Press Club (NVPC) as part of its mission to give joy and meaning to the indigent sector this Christmas season. “This is one of our many ways in celebrating the spirit of Christmas in our hearts. We hope we can do this again next year,” said Victor Martin, president of the NVPC.  The NVPC gave assorted food packs, vitamins, medicines, toys and used clothing to the families and children of the Gawad Kalinga Lumabang Village in barangay Bascaran in this town. (PIA)