Pieta, a Catholic lay organization of Filipino widows, is sponsoring a spiritual retreat under the theme: “The Catholic Family Life: A Sharing Between Widow Participants & Their Offspring (Children/Grandchildren)” from July 23-25, 2004 at the Canosa Retreat House in Tagaytay City.
Fr. Arsenio Nuñez, S.J. of the Ateneo de Manila University will be the retreat master and moderator. He will be assisted by Fr. Delfin Paulino Felipe.
Interested parties are welcomed to join the Pieta officers and its chapter members from Fairview and Meycauayan. (PR)
Registration ongoing for international reading congress in Manila
The International Reading Association (IRA), through its national affiliate the Reading Association of the Philippines (RAP), has announced that registration for the 20th World Congress on Reading is ongoing. The congress will be held at the EDSA Shangri-La Hotel in Mandaluyong City from July 26 to 29 and features speakers and participants from all over the world.
Participants from the Philippines and other developing countries in the region can avail of a special rate of US$175. Registration fees include all meetings and general sessions, the welcoming reception, and daily luncheons.
For registration, participants may get in touch with the congress chairperson (local arrangements) Rizalina Labanda at e-mail labanda@laguna.net. Online registration is also available at www.reading.org.
Payments may be made through any Philippine National Bank (PNB) branch nationwide to the account name International Reading Association, WC 2004. Registrants may deposit payments to either peso account number 259830232-7 or dollar account number 259702597-4.
The World Congress on Reading is a critical literacy event, held every other year, and serving more than 2,000 professionals in the field — including classroom teachers, teacher educators, administrators, researchers, and others — who gather for presentations, symposia, and workshops on emerging global literacy issues.
The theme of the 20th World Congress is “Literacy Across Cultures.” The congress will have a particular focus on the teaching of reading in the Philippines and across Asia. Strong attendance from the Philippines, China, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, India, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand, New Zealand, and Australia is expected. There will also be delegates from all over Europe, Africa, and the Americas.
Some of the topics that will be discussed include classroom strategies, early literacy, second language learning, family literacy, and multicultural education, among others. (PR)
13-yr-old hospital patient pleads for financial aid
Frederick Decena, 13, from Barangay V, Coron, Palawan has been confined in Ward 11, Philippine General Hospital (PGH) since April 30, 2004 and was diagnosed with enterocolitis, entiritis affecting both small and large intestines.
The boy suffered severe abdominal pain and gradual abdominal enlargement until he was brought to the said hospital. He underwent surgery twice until such time he was referred to PGH for further medical care and treatment.
Frederick’s condition can only be treated with dozes of antibiotics to remedy the infectious disease. But due to the family’s financial incapability and lack of resources, the 2nd year student cannot afford to undergo the expensive treatment to cure his disease. To maintain his medicines and laboratory work-ups, he needs financial aids to support him until he recovers.
Family members of the Decenas ask for help of individuals and various welfare agencies and institutions who can extend their monetary donations to the patient.
Interested parties may personally visit Frederick in Bed 8, Ward 11 of PGH or contact tel. nos. 7118707/414-0104 and look for Eloisa Decena, aunt of Frederick.
