MCWD announces 12-hour water service interruption

THE Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD) announced there will be a 12-hour water service interruption, from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 25, that will affect 13 barangays in the cities of Mandaue and Cebu.

The water district’s wellfield in Talamban cannot operate within this period due to a power service interruption brought about by a major repair work to be implemented by the Visayan Electric Co. (Veco) in the Talamban area.

CCCI hosts handmade products exhibition

THE Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) in participation with the Handmade Craft and Design by La Libertad Weavers’ Association (Laliwa), Negros Oriental and Uswag Calahunan Livelihood Association (Ucla) in Iloilo City will hold the “Handmade Crafts and Design Exhibition” at the Materials Library, DOST Complex, Banilad, Cebu City.

The activity, which is organized in partnership with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) 7 and AFOS-Germany, will start today until Nov. 25.

Mercury rising

WHEN the 900-mile-wide superstorm Sandy hit the northeastern United States in October, killing more than 100, it brought $50 billion (about a quarter of the Philippines’ gross domestic product) in economic losses and questions about whether global warming had played a part.

When sea and rain collide

THE view of the shoreline in Brgy. Ocoy, Santa Fe town in Bantayan Island, Cebu has changed in the last 18 years, said environmental lawyer Antonio Oposa.

Referring to the School of the SEAs (Sea, Earth Advocates), an environment conservation showcase to promote environmental education, Oposa told Sun.Star Cebu that from 1994 to early this year he had observed that the shoreline is now nearer to the school’s staff house and conference area.

Gas guzzling, power trip

EVERY year, more than 24,000 vehicles are added to the streets of Central Visayas, 80 percent of them in Cebu.

Some 574,623 motor vehicles were registered at the Land Transportation Office (LTO) in Central Visayas in 2011, up from 329,494 in 2001.

50 visually-impaired join White Cane Safety Day

MORE than 50 visually-impaired trainees of the Department of Social Welfare and Development 7, through the Area Vocational Rehabilitation Center (AVRC) II in Barangay Labangon, Cebu City joined in the celebration of the White Cane Safety Day held recently.

Joint outreach program serves 150 beneficiaries

ABOUT 150 people participated in community and education services jointly organized by the AJD Angels of Hope Foundation and the Can+Hear Marco Emmanuel Charity in Barangay Parian, Cebu City last month.

Dubbed as feeding and reading outreach programs, the activities were conducted in connection with the first anniversary of AJD Angels and the third commemorative year of Can+Hear in humanitarian services.

CMC holds ‘Clean-up Walk’

THE Cordova Multipurpose Cooperative (CMC) capped the Cooperative Month last October with the holding of a “Clean-up Walk” along the main roads of Cordova town from Pilipog Market, which serves as the boundary between Cordova and Lapu-Lapu City, up to the town’s Poblacion.

Films enabling the nation screened in Cebu

THE Active Vista Human Rights Film Festival commemorated the National Deaf Awareness Week with the screening of four short films that deal with issues of the deaf at the Cebu Public Library last March 14.

In partnership with the Gualandi Volunteer Services Program and the Student Council Alliance of the Philippines in Cebu, Dakila presented the short films “Feeling the Faith” by Paul Halili and Alan Obenza, “Kubli” by Dr. Liza Martinez, “Abot Kamay” by Victor Villanueva and “River of Dreams” by Mike Dagnalan.

Groups sustain drive against malnutrition

CENTURY Pacific Group-Ricardo S. Po (CPG-RSPo) Foundation, in cooperation with the Center for Industrial Technology and Enterprise (Cite), continues to wage war against malnutrition and hunger among Filipino children during its October relaunching of Kalusugan at Isipan Naalagaan (Kain) Po supplementary feeding program.

CIC Batch ’77 reunion set

THE high school batch who graduated in 1977 from the Colegio dela Inmaculada Concepcion (CIC) will mark its coral jubilee, with activities lined up from Dec. 1 to 5.

Thirty-five years since their high school graduation, members of Batch ’77 will open the reunion activities with a welcome brunch at 9:30 a.m. on Dec. 1 at the Don Merto’s Restaurant at Casa Escaño, Cebu City.

CVIF-DLP orientation held

SMART Communications Inc. and the PLDT-Smart Foundation (PSF) recently conducted simultaneous orientation sessions on the award-winning Central Visayan Institute Foundation (CVIF)-Dynamic Learning Program (DLP) in key cities all over the country.

The simultaneous activity was part of the groups’ efforts to spread to the schools the good news about this non-traditional yet effective learning method.

Free workshop for PWDs set

FR. LORETO Jaque and his group, Deliverance and Uplift in the Wonders of the Arts (Duwa), will host a free workshop for persons with disabilities (PWDs) on Nov. 18 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the social hall of the Cebu City Hall.

Dubbed as “Arts Day with PWDs,” the event, which is sponsored by Globe Telecom and IROC Vis-Min, aims to give PWDS a voice to express their thoughts and artistic capabilities. It is meant to celebrate their stories and to honor them by letting them explore their creativity and imagination through fun activities. Art materials, snacks and lunch will be provided for free.

800 residents benefit from medical mission

CLOSE to 800 residents from Barangays Mabolo and Hipodromo in Cebu City got served by the University of Cebu Medical Center (UCMC) volunteers in a medical mission held recently at The Persimmon in Mabolo.

The beneficiaries availed of the free services such as cervical and breast cancer screening, blood sugar testing, eye testing, general medicine and pediatrics.

CCCI joins drive vs. illegal gambling

THE Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) marched with the Cebu City Police Office in holding a rally against illegal gambling and other illegal activities.

Prudencio Gesta, CCCI president and Buddy Villasis, CCCI executive director, joined CCPO Director Melvin Ramon Buenafe in the march rally that ended inside the Fuente Osmeña rotunda.

Rafi’s learnshop highlights parenting

PARENTING styles affect the character children develop as they grow to adulthood.

During the October First Friday Affair (FFA) of the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (Rafi), employee-participants underwent a learnshop on character-centered parenting that tackled theories and practices of developing a child’s character.

CIC Batch '77 reunion on December 1-5

THE high school batch who graduated in 1977 from the Colegio de la Inmaculada Concepcion (CIC) will mark its coral jubilee with activities lined up for December 1 to 5.

Sinulog Foundation sets dance workshop

THE Sinulog Foundation announced it will conduct a two-day dance workshop on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 9 and 10, at the Cebu City Sports Center Dance Studio.

Dubbed as 2013 Dance Workshop, the event carries the theme titled, “A Celebration of Tradition and Creative Imagination.” It aims to enrich and enhance the Sinulog dance in the street and on stage through the medium of modern contemporary dance and folk dance.

Basadours kicks off ‘Book Week’ with Storython on Nov. 23

READING advocate group, Basadours, will start the celebration of the National Book Week by holding a “Storython: A Storytelling Marathon Event,” which will gather more than 100 selected schoolchildren in Cebu City on Nov. 23 at the Cebu City Public Library (CCPL)

With the theme, “Storytelling is more fun at your public library,” the event will feature six storytellers coming from different backgrounds, who will read and act out value-laden storybooks to children.

CIS hosts EARCOS workshop

INTERNATIONAL school teachers, leaders and middle managers from Brent International Schools in Baguio, Manila and Subic, Chinese International School, Cebu Learning Center, Concordia International School Shanghai, the Multiple Intelligences International School, Cebu Learning Center, Morrison Academy (Taiwan), and Shekou International School joined their fellow colleagues from Cebu International School (CIS) during the East Asia Regional Council of Schools (EARCOS) weekend workshop hosted by CIS in Cebu recently.

DepEd honors Smart for support to education

THE Department of Education (DepEd) recently recognized wireless leader Smart Communications Inc. (Smart) for its contributions in helping improve the country’s education system.

Smart was selected by DepEd as one of the prime partners under the adopt-a-school program where the education department works with corporate partners to boost the quality of public education through technology support, training and development, and infrastructure.

DepEd Cebu sets press gab on Nov. 6-8

TO ENHANCE journalistic skills through healthy and friendly competitions, the Department of Education (DepEd) Cebu Province will hold a “Division Schools Press Conference” on Nov. 6 to 8 at the Arcelo Memorial National High School in Liloan town, Cebu.

“This is a better approach to awaken the youth in their role as journalists,” said Dr. Mary Ann P. Flores, education supervisor (ES) I-English.

Cops hold raffle for a cause

THE Regional Public Safety Battalion (RPSB) 7 conducted a “Raffle Draw for a Cause” last Oct. 9 at the camp’s quadrangle in Barangay Bahay, Sibonga town, Cebu.

Proceeds from the raffle tickets, which were sold at P100 each, will be used to build a camp rehabilitation for all police non-commissioned officers inside the compound of the Camp Ceferino Jenobia Regional Special Training Unit in Sibonga.

CFM Cebu hosts Asia conference

THE International Confederation of Christian Family Movements (ICCFM) will hold its 9th Continental Asia conference on Oct. 25 to 28 at the Betania Retreat House in Nivel Hills, Lahug, Cebu City.

The event, with the theme “Mission of Asian Christian Families in a Globalized Society,” was announced recently by CFM Philippines president Mario and Inday Nery.

Students get new school building, bags

CHILREN’S Hour and Carlos A. Gothong Foundation unveiled new classrooms in Cambagocboc Elementary School in the town of Balamban, Cebu under the Bayanihang Pampaaralan program.

The two-classroom and restroom structure was built through the combined efforts of the two organizations.

Cella to turn 25 on Dec. 2

THE Cebu Lady Lawyers Association Inc. (Cella) will celebrate its 25th year on Dec. 2, with a dinner at the Salon de Madrid of the Casino Español de Cebu.

Among the major sponsors of the affair is Smart Communications Inc.

STC-HS ‘88 holds seminar for a cause

POPULAR television host Boy Abunda will be in Cebu on Nov. 16 for a seminar dubbed as “Here for a Purpose: A Roadmap to a Successful and Excellent Life.”

This fund-raising activity will be held at the Cebu City Sports Club, Cebu Business Park at 1-5 p.m.

Miracles and mystery

SINCE Pedro Calungsod’s beatification on March 5, 2000, the devotion to the Visayan martyr has increased with the number of stories of the lives he has touched.

Outside the Archdiocesan Shrine of Blessed Pedro Calungsod in Cebu City, opened in 2002 to propagate the devotion to Calungsod, Rosario Polinar Melecio described how the martyr had truly been a blessing in her life.

Faith, goods and works: Fruits of Calungsod’s canonization

TODAY, a teenager from the Visayas will have his name inscribed in the catalogue of saints, bringing untold pride and benefits to the Philippines as it welcomes only its second saint.

Pedro Calungsod will be canonized with six other blessed persons in St. Peter’s Square in Rome, Italy and henceforth hold the title St. Pedro Calungsod, Lay Catechist and Martyr.

Memories, landmark and digital prayers

AFTER the canonization of St. Pedro Calungsod and all the thanksgiving masses have been celebrated, devotees of the new saint will be left not only with memories of the historic event.

For some 7,000 young devotees from different parts of the Philippines and other continents, the canonization of St. Pedro also means having a “kabarkada” (peer) who will intercede for them.