The Children’s Rosary Movement will hold the 6th Children’s Rosary Rally on Saturday, October 2, with the theme "Loving Jesus with Mary for peace and unity."

Children aged 9 to 13 in parishes nationwide will gather to pray the rosary from 10:30 a.m.-12:00 n.n. followed by the Act of Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary and the holy mass.

H.E. Jaime Cardinal L. Sin launched the Children’s Rosary Rally in October 1999, with Francisco A. Alba, president of the Children’s Rosary Movement. Alba is former ambassador to the Holy See.

As in previous years, the rallies will be held in the 16 archdioceses of the country where children are convened with their bishops, priests, parents, teachers and parishioners in designated churches and shrines to simultaneously pray the Holy Rosary. The Episcopal Commission for Pastoral Care for Migrants and Itinerant People under the chairmanship of H.E. Most Rev. Precioso D. Cantillas, SDB, D.D., has invited its 60 chaplaincies worldwide to participate.

This year’s rosary rally coincides with the Feast of the Holy Guardian Angels and National Eucharistic Marian Year. The children will pray the rosary with intentions for peace and unity in the country and in the world.

The rosary rally at the Mary Queen of Peace Shrine (Edsa Shrine) will be highlighted by a Holy Mass to be officiated by His Excellency Archbishop Gaudencio B. Rosales, D.D., Archbishop of Manila. This event will be covered by ABS-CBN News Channel 21 with a video presentation by the Children’s Rosary Movement, Family Rosary Crusade and Prudentialife Plans, Inc. at 4-5p.m.

Further information on the Children’s Rosary Rally may be obtained from the Family Rosary Crusade, 521-6953; 524-2779; Evangelion Foundation, 532-4566, 534-1607; and Prudentialife Plan Group, 816-4157.

Convention of Campus Ministries to be held

The First National Convention of Campus Ministries will be held from Oct. 20 to 22, 2004 at the Westin Philippine Plaza With the theme "Transforming Schools Into Faith Communities," the three-day convention is being hosted by the Campus Ministry of the Ministry for Youth Affairs of the Archdiocese of Manila in partnership with the University of Santo Tomas. Heading the organizing committee is His Grace Archbishop Gaudencio B. Rosales, D.D. with Rev. Fr. Tamerlane Lana, O.P. as co-chairperson. The youthful private secretary of the Archbishop of Manila and Ministry for Youth Affairs Minister, Rev. Fr. Rufino C. Sescon, Jr. chairs the convention with Rev. Msgr. Vicente D. Bauson as chief operating officer.

The convention aims to provide a strong spiritual direction in the lives of the youth currently caught in the ambivalent choices towards anything that has to do with the lures of postmodernism, globalization, information technology and consumerism.

Peace Consciousness Month at PNU

The Philippine Normal University celebrated National Peace Consciousness Month at its library lobby and conference room last September 22 to 24. The celebration was done in coordination with the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP), United Nations Information Center (UNIC), Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) and the Indian Embassy.

Eleven internationally acclaimed films from USA, Brazil, Netherlands, India, Philippines, Italy, Japan, Thailand, China, and Cuba were screened for peace and human rights. Peace exhibits from United Nation Information Center "Rice is Life," Embassy of India "Gandhi the Peacemaker," and from Billah Islam "Discover Islam," were also displayed at the library lobby for one week.

A peace research forum was also conducted by Prof. Rene C. Romero on Sept. 24, 2004 (2 p.m.) at the Teachers Network Resource Center, PNU. He discussed the initial findings of the ongoing research entitled "Education for Conviviality in the Asia Pacific Region."

DepEd launches IT academy

Former Education Secretary Edilberto de Jesus and Microsoft Philippines Inc. Academic Affairs Director Sam Jacoba led the ribbon cutting of the Partners in Learning Information Technology Center at the Department of Education Central Office in Pasig City.

The program was an offshoot of a five-year agreement between DepEd and Microsoft, wherein the latter would institute an IT Academy Center at the DepEd Central Office, particularly at the 45th floor of the Bonifacio Building, that will serve as an IT hub for teachers.

Under the PIL program, Microsoft personnel will train teachers in basic ICT literacy, desktop productivity and software development. Universities and colleges participating in this project include UP-VCI-IT Training Center, Roosevelt College, Cainta; Roosevelt College, Marikina City; STI System; FEU-FERN; EXCEED Learning Institute; University of Makati; Philippine Normal University; San Beda College; San Sebastian College; University of the East; Colegio de San Juan de Letran; AMA Education System; Mapua Institute of Technology; MITC; and Polytechnic University of the Philippines. Microsoft Philippines managing director Antonio Javier added that PIL is part of Microsoft’s commitment to assist the Education Department in building a national IT infrastructure for teacher training.

Maryknoll Sisters visit home

Around 80 Maryknoll Sisters from all over the ASEAN region will be coming to the Philippines for a Regional Conference on Oct. 21-26 in Tagaytay City. Afterwards, on Oct. 27, they will visit Miriam College (formerly Maryknoll College) for an afternoon of reminiscing, catching up and cultural fun.

Miriam College will hold a tour and exhibit to showcase the changes that have transpired through the years of their absence, in the school the Maryknoll Sisters established in 1926. The highlight of the homecoming will be a Barrio Fiesta, with performances of Philippine songs and dances by students for the foreign delegates.

International ceramic competition to be held

Ceramic artists from around the world are invited to take part in the 3rd World Ceramic Biennale 2005 Korea (CEBIKO) International competition. This grand-scale international event focuses on defining new values and creative direction for 21st century ceramics.

One of the main events of the World Ceramic Biennale, this competition will be held from April 23 to June 19, 2005 in which ceramic artists from across the globe will compete in two categories namely, "Ceramics for Use" and "Ceramics as Expression."Interested individuals should send a 3" x 5" color photograph of the entry as well as two 35mm color slides (mounted) taken from different angles not later than October 15, 2004 to Icheon World Ceramic Center, 467-020, San 69-1, Gwango-dong, Icheon-si, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea. Entrants who have passed the preliminary slide selection will be notified by mail.