MANILA, Philippines — The year-long nationwide pilgrimage of the National Youth Cross (NYC) that began last January 31 continues as it makes its stop in various dioceses in the National Capital Region (NCR). The NYC was in Baguio City last week, following a visit to the Apostolic Prelature of Batanes, and will proceed to the Military Ordinariate in Quezon City.

It had already toured several dioceses in the Visayas and Mindanao. The pilgrimage is part of the activities for the observance of 2011 as the Year of the Youth as declared by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines – Episcopal Commission on Youth (CBCP-ECY). At every stop, overnight vigils, special masses, confession, adoration of the cross, and other activities that encourage the youth to deepen their spirituality are held. (Christina I. Hermoso)

Model families

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has given recognition to the 2011 Huwarang Pamilyang Pilipino of Caloocan during the kick-off of the National Family Week celebration.

The awarding of the 2011 Huwarang Pamilyang Pilipino of Caloocan was led by DSWD Secretary Corazon Soliman and Caloocan City Mayor Enrico Echiverri. Awardees were the families of Ricardo and Perlita Mateo (family category) and Mrs. Aurora de Guzman (solo parent category).

Soliman said the award is given in recognition of families who uphold and demonstrate the Filipino values of resiliency, respect and family solidarity and contribute to the development of their community. (Ellalyn B. De Vera)

Job offer

Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista offered Miss Universe third runner-up Shamcey Supsup to undertake the architectural design of one of the city’s housing projects during the beauty queen’s courtesy call at the Quezon City Hall Monday.

In front of an appreciative employees and curiosity seekers, Bautista said he will convince Supsup to share her knowledge in building phase 2 of Bistek Ville. Aside from being a beauty queen, Supsup graduated magna cum laude at the University of the Philippines (UP) and topped the 2010 licensure board examinations for architecture. (Chito A. Chavez)

Baghdad delegation

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Rafael E. Seguis leads a five-member delegation to Iraq to look into the possibility of reopening the Philippine Embassy in Baghdad and the lifting of the ban on the deployment of Filipino workers there.

This is the first visit to Iraq by a ranking Philippine government official since Manila transferred its Baghdad embassy to Amman in Jordan in 2005. The decision to relocate the embassy, which was first opened in 1981, was prompted by security concerns that followed the kidnapping of Angelito dela Cruz and Roberto Tarongoy in 2004 and 2005. (Roy Mabasa)

No plans

Former President Joseph “Erap” Estrada has no political plans at the moment but he is not closing the door on the possibility another political post to make a fitting ending to a storied political career.

“As of now there is none,” Estrada said in a chance interview during the commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the ejection by the Philippines Senate of the United States' military bases in the Philippines held at the Club Filipino in Greenhills, San Juan, last Friday.

Asked about the possibility that he may run anew after his failed bid to reclaim the presidency during the 2010 polls, the former movie actor endeared by the masses said he would have to think it over. (JC Bello Ruiz)