ILOILO CITY, Iloilo (PIA) - The Iloilo Hotels, Resorts and Restaurants Association (IHRRA) has organized two food festivals next week here to coincide with the Iloilo Paraw Regatta 2013 and Chinese New Year. IHRRA President Albert Ong said this year, the Iloilo Paraw Regatta Seafood Festival will be held in the city proper, at Mapa St., across Freedom Grandstand where some of the Paraw Regatta’s events will be held. Some 15 IHRRA members of the IHRRA will join the two-day food fest which opens at 5 p.m., Feb. 12. The food fest will also usher in the Torch Parade at 6:30 p.m. and Sinamba sa Paraw Regatta Mardi Gras Competition at 8 p.m. on February 12 and Grand Coronation Night of Miss Iloilo Paraw Regatta Festival at 7 p.m. on February 13, all at the Freedom Grandstand.
MEDIA CHALLENGE
ROXAS CITY, Capiz (PIA) - Capiz Chief Legal Officer and Provincial Administrator Jose Villanueva challenged media practitioners in Capiz to always stand for the truth and maintain credibility and integrity. Villanueva, who was guest speaker during the induction of officers and oath-taking of new members of the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas-Capiz Chapter, said that media should always adhere to the truth and should stand for it whatever it costs. He reminded public officials to be open to criticisms and be ready to admit their faults and react immediately by correcting the same. At the same time, he also said journalists to “criticize not the dignity and honor of the person but only the act of the person as the latter could be corrected, while the former, once destroyed, is irreparable."
VOLUNTEER RUN
CEBU CITY, Cebu (PIA) - Cebuanos will be joining today the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Cebu Chapter’s “Million Volunteer Run 2” today, Feb. 10, 5 a.m. at Sumilon Road, Cebu Business Park. The run, as in the past year, aims to raise funds to finance the major services of PRC chapters while creating a culture of volunteerism in the country. There are two PRC chapters in Cebu – Cebu and Lapu-Lapu chapters. Last year, some 1,300 Cebuanos participated in the run’s 3K and 5K categories.
LANDBANK DONATION
LARENA, Siquijor (PIA) - At least 350 bags of rice and relief goods were distributed by the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) to Siquijor province recently as calamity assistance to the victims of typhoon Pablo that hit the province early December last year. LBP Siquijor branch manager Joferdine Y. Cui turned over the donation of 50 bags of rice for each municipality. The LBP, in a report said it has raised a total R12 million in assistance fund.
MONITORING ELECTIONS
CATARMAN, Northern Samar (PIA) – The local Commission on Elections (Comelec)-accredited Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) and the Northern Samar Peace and Development Forum (NSPDF) are partnering for peaceful national, ARMM regional and local elections in May 13, 2013. A multi-sectoral group comprised of church, government, academe, civil society and youth groups, the NSPDF will serve as PPCRV’s coordinating arm. Initially, PPCRV and NSPDF plans to hold recollection, covenant signing and a forum for the candidates in the provincial level.