THREE holidays this LOVE Month 2016 for Cebu

CEBUANOS are set to enjoy three Special Non Working Holidays this month of February.

It will be a long first weekend as February 8 (Monday), is the annual celebration of the Chinese New Year according to Presidential Proclamation 1105 detailing the list of National Holidays in the Philippines for 2016.  It is a Special Non Working holiday.

This year, by virtue of Proclamation Number 1071, 2015, the annual celebration of the EDSA Revolution will be celebrated not just by the students but by the entire country.

February 25, which falls on a Thursday, is declared as a Special Non Working Day.

The extra holiday is on February 24th, pursuant to Republic Act 7287, the Cebu City Charter Day. It is declared also a Special Non-Working holiday but only for Cebu City residents and work places only.

For holiday pays... please click on www.dole.gov.ph


So take time to rest or to escape and enjoy with family, friends or... you know who. =)

IEC Update : Reminders for the SRP Culminating Mass on January 31, 2016, 4:00 P.M.

BELOW are the reminders and the arrangements of participants for this Sunday's Statiu Orbis 

A. The SRP area is already open as early as in the morning on the said date for all who may attend the Statio Orbis Mass.

B. Traffic Routes at the SRP will not be closed EXCEPT for huge container vans and trucks while the activity is going on.

C. Hence, Only the BUSES of the Delegates and the Vehicles of the VIPs and other Committee in charge are allowed to park near the Templete. (They have designated parking space at the back of the Templete.

D. For those travelling via BUSES and jeepneys from the SOUTH OF CEBU, they are advised to travel up to the KAWIT ISLAND area only. Kaoshiong Buses are available at the area to bring them to the SRP Templete.

E. For those travelling via BUSES from the NORTH OF CEBU, they are advised to travel up to the MARITIMA BUILDING (near the City Hall area) area only. Kaoshiong Buses are available at the area to bring them to SRP Templete.

F. Those travelling via private and light vehicles may enter the SRP area and use the available parking space at SM Seaside City.

G. Everyone is also advised to bring with them their own chairs since the ones being prepared are reserved to the IEC 2016 Delegates only. (This may include basic necessities such as umbrella, bottled water and the like).

Source : IEC2016.ph

IEC Media Briefing January 26 : Use social media but with substance, Rev. Barron to priests

Priests can go high-tech in spreading the word of God!

The use of new media is a creative way of bringing back people to church. 

 This was the statement of Most Reverend Robert Barron, auxiliary bishop of Los Angeles, California, USA.

Barron was among the panelists in a media briefing at theInternational Eucharistic Congress Pavillion.

 He said there is a noted decrease among those who go to church and social media among other modern methods, should be used by the clergy .

 The social media and the Internet, he said, is an extraordinary tool to evangelize.

“It will be silly not to take the advancement,” Barron said.

However, Barron pointed out that its usage will be maximized positively.

“You must have something substantial to share. You study. You read. New media must be backed up by the Old Media, which are the books, scripture,” Barron said.

He said that in his own diocese, more than 70 percent of Catholics are no longer attending masses. “This is a spiritual disaster,” he said.

Barron said that it is the Filipinos that keeps the church alive.

  

He said he could feel the vigilance and the passion in Cebu where Christianity began in the Philippines.

Barron is the founder of Word on Fire, a global media ministry dedicated to new evangelization methods.

On the other hand, Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma said that while there is a  need to innovate again it should be with more  learning and praying.

Palma calls on the practitioners of traditional forms of media to help them in keeping the faith alive.

Over 15,000 delegates are in Cebu for the IEC which runs from January 24 t0 30.

 It is the second time the IEC is held in the Philippines. 

*Photos are all taken by Virgilio V. Verzonilla of PIA-Cebu 

Cebu's P500k investment leads to P12M drug haul in one week

Cebu provincial government's half a million investment on weeklong operations resulted to a drug haul of P12 million.

The “Oplan Limpyo Probinsya” of the Cebu City Police Office (CPPO) supported by the Cebu Provincial Anti Drug Abuse Council (CPADAC) presented recently the results of  "Oplan Limpyo Probinsya" which was implemented for a week from January 12 to 18 this year.

Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III said the province, through CPADAC, allotted P500,000 in the conduct of “Limpyo Probinsya”.

CPADAC is giving financial support to the police to intensify the drug campaign and the recent operations netted the biggest haul so far.

In said period, CPPO and its operatives were able to conduct 59 operations, majority of which were enforced through a search warrant.

In terms of confiscated shabu, they were able to haul 1.059 grams which has a street value of P12,500,220.

The biggest haul from among the local government police stations was conducted by Carcar City with over 90 grams of shabu worth P1.071 million.

The City of Danao ollowed with 66.9 grams of shabu and a value of P855,000.

Top three are Consolacion town with a haul of P716,260 from 59 grams shabu, followed by 

Balamban town with P239,540  from 10.20 grams, and Argao town with P232,460 worth from 19.70 grams shabu.

Provincial Intelligence  Branch CPPO teams hauled the biggest with a total of P4.7 million drug haul.

There were also 17 different firearms confiscated from 128 suspects arrested.

Among the suspects were a public school teacher from  San Francisco Camotes Island and a dismised policeman from Minglanilla town.

On the other hand, ten police stations are under watch for being unable to comply with the required operations.

“Oplan Limpyo Probinsya” is conducted every three months.

It was enforced following reports that Central Visayas ranked fourth in the drug trade in the country last year. (rmn/fcc/PIA7-Cebu)

For other Cebu updates ... Go to www.pia.gov.ph   Click Central Visayas.

IEC media briefing Jan. 25 --Of hopefuls and inculcated values

CEBU CITY, January 26 (PIA) – Catholic church officials are hopeful that the holding of the International Eucharistic Congress (IEC) in Cebu  translates into applied values in the Philippine society.

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Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma, in yesterday's press briefing at the IEC Pavilion, said they remain positive that the learnings and realizations that will be shared from the congress will eventually be made visible in the various issues faced by the Filipinos.

Understanding the Eucharist means the intent to transform, he said.

“It is transformative, so this would mean values such as equality, peace and honesty, patience will be practiced by public, leaders and the people,” Palma said.

Citing the Mamasapano incident which happened exactly a year ago, Palma said they continue to hope for justice and healing for the families.

The IEC is also seen to influence the lay positively which will extend into the conduct and participation of the May elections.

“I believe in the grace of the event.  Walking towards the direction of hope means doing something and not just sitting down,” Palma said.

Italian Archbishop Peirro Marini said the Eucharist is the identity of Christ.

“In the Congress, the participants are hoped to have inculcated what they learn from the liturgy or it will be nothing," Marini said.

The second day of the IEC centered on being hopeful and the pastoral role of women in the Church.

The Papal Envoy led by  Papal Legate Charles Maung Cardinal Bo will be treated today to a performance by the world renowned dancing inmates of the Cebu ProvincialDetention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC).

                                               (Dancing Inmates tribute to Pope Francis' visit) 

There are 72 participating countries in the EIC with over 200 bishops present.

It was in 1937 when the Philippines first hosted the IEC.(FCC)/RMN/.PIA7-Cebu)

For other Cebu news go to Philippine Information Agency - Central Visayas news 

DSWD 7 augments city welfare staff for IEC2016

CEBU CITY, January 22 (PIA)—Sixty Department of SocialWelfare and Development (DSWD) staff will augment the local social welfare department for the International Eucharistic Congress (IEC)  next week.

According to Evelyn Macapobre, Regional Director of DSWD7, there are 60 staff identified to assist during the event on January 24 until the 31st.

In a press release, the 60 regional personnel will be augmenting the Department of Social Welfare Services (DSWS) of the Cebu City Government who are mainly assigned for camp management and emergency situations.

“We have committed 60 staff mostly composed of social workers to help manage the help desk where lost and found children will be stationed,” Macapobre said.

Initial symposium related to the IEC are already being done this week.

It will be formally opened with a Mass by Cardinal Maung Bo of Sri Lanka at the Plaza Independencia.

The Pontifical Mass on January 24 will be celebrated by Cardinal Bo in behalf of Pope Francis who will not be able to make it to the IEC.

 

Cardinal Maung Bo representing Pope Francis 

On the 28th Manila Archbishop Luis Cardinal Tagle will be the congress’ speaker at the IEC Pavilion.

There will be a Visita Iglesia or church visit on that day  will also be held among parishes in Metro Cebu including the Our Lady of the Sacred Heart in Capitol, Redemptorist Church, Santo Rosario Church, Basilica del Santo Niño, AsilodelaMedallaMilagrosa, Sacred Heart Parish, and the Cebu Cathedral.

 These will also be the venues where the delegates will have encounters with local parishioners. 

 On January 29, the delegates will also be brought to their foster families as part of the immersion activity while a procession will be held from Capitol to Plaza Independencia in the afternoon.

 There will be Masses to be held on January 28 at the Hoops Dome in Lapu-Lapu City, Capitol building quadrangle on January 29, and the closing ceremonies at the South Road Properties on January 31.

 IEC is an international gathering of people which aims to promote an awareness of the central place of the Eucharist in the life and mission of the Catholic Church, help improve our understanding and celebration of the liturgy and draw attention to the social dimension of the Eucharist.

 The event is expected to gather millions of pilgrims during the opening and closing ceremonies. (rmn/fcc/PIA-Cebu with reports from Phoebe Jen Indino, Pantawid Pamilya IO)

Sports, arts, faith - Sinulog2016 updates

It is going to be a feast of faith, arts and sports this Sinulog 2016.

This is how Ricky Ballesteros, executive director of Sinulog Foundation Inc., describes this year’s overall celebration of the feast of the Patron of Cebu, the Sr. Santo Nino.

For the religious activities, there will be a total of ten masses to be celebrated everyday beginning January 8 until feast day on January 17.

This will nclude the Walk with Jesus dawn procession (January 7), Walk with Mary (January 15), Fluvial Parade, re enactment of the Christianization of the Cebuanos, and then the Solemn Procession on January 16.

On the other hand, fiesta committees are all out with the regular highlights of Sinulog other than the festival on January 17th.

These include Search for Sinulog Idols, Festival Queens, contests for Best Sinulog Films, Photos, Sinulog documentary, short film and Music Videos, Cebu Pop Music Festival and chorale competition, and the Miss Cebu pageant.

Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is also mounting its annual Sinulog Trade Fair at SM City North Reclamation Area.

Department of Tourism (DOT), on the other hand, will start welcoming balikbayans on January 13.

In the sports side, a Cebu City Marathon is set on January 10 and the first ever Cebu City Triathlon on January 24.

Another first for this year is the 1st DJ mixing competition.

The City will also open the “Devotee City” near the Maritima Building to cater to pilgrims and devotees who have no abode in the city.

Sinulog sa Kabataan is scheduled on January 10, a week before the Grand Parade.

The Pyromusicale Show will culminate the festival.

Cultural shows and band performances will also be held at the Fuente Osmena Circle.

Police authorities have assured enough manpower to secure the festivities and religious activities.

This year is the 451st fiesta celebration of the province.

Other details click on to Sinulog website 

Cebu Lions treated Pasil kids with gifts, footwear and reading

More  than 200 kids of Pasil Elementary School  benefit from the Gift Giving and Reading initiated by Cebu Council of Lions Presidents.

Philippine Information Agency Cebu under Project Inspire led the Reading of over 200 kids with stories of environment conservation, culture and good manners.

Cebu Lumad Lions Club President Ferliza Contratista also of PIA-Cebu reads to kids.

Council President Jose Mari Gastardo of Cebu Queen City Lions Club said, this is an activity initiated by the Council representing the 17 clubs in the District.

Cebu Downtown Lions Club

Gastardo said, the different clubs pitched in for the distribution of shoes and slippers for the children who are seven to 12 years old.

Cebu Lions Club 

They were also provided with packed meals which was different from the usual feeding program.

Cebu Queen City Lions Club with Council President Atty. Jose Gastardo 

“We choose Pasil because we know that the place where some of the sad stories about children came from, there are stories on drugs and peace and order, we just want to make the children happy,” Gastardo said.

Some clubs also brought along with them, packs of goodies and other treats.

Officials of Pasil Elementary School and the Parents Teachers Association (PTA) on the other hand, prepared dance and song numbers.

Lapulapu City Host Lions Club 

PIA Cebu had coordinated with LIONS Clubs on programs with children.

USC Campus Lions Club 

Aside from the Reading which is one of the advocacy of PIA Cebu, they also coordinated with the Cebu City Police Office Women and Children Protection Office (CCPO-WCPO) in the annual Childrens Month Talent Showcase.

Cebu Centennial Lions Club 

Cebu Hamili Lions Club 

Last November, the Council also sponsored the food for the 300 street children under the care of CCPO during the kick off activity.

Cebu Lumad Lions Club

Participating Lions Clubs include Cebu Centennial Lions Club, Cebu Downtown Lions Club, 

Cebu Bayanihan Lions Club 

Cebu Bayanihan Lions Club, Cebu Diamonds Lions Club, Cebu Lakandula Lions Club, Cebu Hamili Lions Club, Cebu Lumad Lions Club, Cebu, Mandaue Host Lions Club, Cebu Lions Club and Cebu Queen City Lions Club.