Aquino joins Cebuanos in celebrating Sinulog 2011
CEBU CITY: President Benigno S. Aquino III joined the people of Cebu as they paid homage to the Santo Nino, or the child Jesus, in their yearly celebration of the Sinulog, during his visit to the province on Sunday.
The President, dressed in his signature yellow polo shirt and denim pants, arrived at the Cebu City Sports Center here at around 10 a.m.
He was welcomed by Cebu City mayor Michael Rama, Cebu City vice mayor Joy Augustus Young, and Cebu First and Second District Representatives Rachel Del Mar and Tomas Osmena, respectively.
In his speech, the President said he is happy to join Cebuanos in celebrating one of the grandest and most colorful festivals in the Philippines “as it gives us an occasion to take great pride in this unique component of our country’s culture.”
“This festival, as we are all proud to note, is also distinctly Cebuano. And it gives me pleasure, as always, to visit your island province,” the President said.
“The atmosphere of the Sinulog cannot be compared with any other celebration. I am glad that the people here have preserved a valuable part of our tradition as Filipinos: you know how to throw a good party. And with your inherent hospitality and lechon-making talent, you Cebuanos are one of the best in holding fiestas,” he stressed.
“But aside from that, according to the President, it was important to remember from which the Sinulog Festival has stemmed: the celebration of our values and beliefs.”
“Along with that legacy came our values that have stood the test of time, which are important as we seize the momentum of reform, and rebuild our country. We are still Filipinos – bound by our culture, by the sacrifices of our forefathers, and the collective aspiration to live up to their example,” the President said.
“We celebrate together because we look back as one, and as one, we also dream,” he added.
The Sinulog festival is one of the grandest and most colorful festivals in the Philippines. The main festival, which has a very rich history, is held each year on the third Sunday of January in Cebu City to honor the Santo Niño, or the child Jesus.
Sinulog is a dance ritual in honor of the miraculous image of the Santo Nino. The dance moves to the sound of the drums that resembles the current (Sinulog) of what was then known as Cebu’s Pahina River. (PCOO)
Aquino prays for Bicol, Visayas and Mindanao flooding victims
CEBU CITY – President Benigno S. Aquino III prayed to the Sto. Niño to help our countrymen from Bicol, Visayas and Mindanao cope with the hardships and challenges brought forth by the recent flooding in the regions.
“Let us pray for our countrymen in the Bicol, Visayas and Mindanao regions who are coping with calamity,” the Chief Executive said in his speech keynoting the start of celebrations for this year’s Sinulog Festival on Sunday.
The President also expressed hoped that the “united community effort that has made the Sinulog Festival successful for three decades will also be displayed as we extend our helping hands to those affected by the recent flash floods.”
The President prayed that the Philippines be protected “from disasters and challenges that will come our way.”
“May Senyor Santo Niño protect our country from disasters and other challenges that will come our way, as we build our dreams together and realize a better life for all,” the President stressed.
“Senyor Santo Niño, Please take care all of us,” the President said in Cebuano. (PCOO)
Malacañang assures to put behind bars Lozano’s abductor
Malacañang assured that the Philippine National Police (PNP) is exhausting necessary efforts to put behind bars whoever is responsible in the abduction of the son of lawyer Oliver Lozano last week.
In an interview over government-run radio station dzRB Radyo ng Bayan on Sunday, Presidential Deputy Spokesperson Abigail Valte gave the assurance that operations are being conducted by the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) to immediately capture the suspects in the kidnapping.
“As of the moment the PNP is on top of this, yung QCPD po ang gumagalaw para mahanap po at matugis yung suspect po dito. They are now establishing the timeline to find out what happened to the son of Atty. Lozano”, Valte said.
Atty. Lozano’s son Emerson, 44, businessman was reportedly kidnapped on January 12 at a gasoline station in Balara, Quezon City where he was last seen with his driver Ernani Sensil.
It was learned that the younger Lozano was scheduled to meet with a buyer of his car at the gasoline station near a mall on Commonwealth Avenue that night before he disappeared.
Sensil was found dead and charred beyond recognition in La Paz, Tarlac.
Atty. Lozano made an appeal to authorities for the immediate capture of the suspects. (PCOO)
Palace urges conditional cash beneficiaries not to rely on government assistance
Malacañang called on the beneficiaries of the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) program to find jobs that would support their daily needs and not to rely on the financial assistance from the government.
In an interview over government-run radio station dzRB Radyo ng Bayan on Sunday, Presidential Deputy Spokesperson Abigail Valte said that the financial aid under the CCT program is not meant to provide the daily needs of the underprivileged people but to buttress their efforts to have a better life.
“We just want to clarify that the CCT is not meant to supplement the entire sustenance of the beneficiaries. Pangtawid lang po ito… ang pangalan nga po ng programa ay Pangtawid Para sa Pamilyang Pilipino (PPPP), hindi po ito dole out,” Valte noted.
Valte made the clarification after reports claimed that the beneficiaries of the CCT program, belonging to the urban poor sector, are not satisfied with the amount of financial assistance being given them by the government.
Valte also said that it is up to the recipients on how to use the cash assistance adding that albeit the financial aid, they are highly encouraged to get jobs.
“Kaya nga po ang Pangulong Aquino ay nagsisikap para magdala ng investments sa ating bansa at dumami ang mga trabaho,” Valte noted.
Valte said the CCT program should not be taken in isolation, it is part of President Aquino’s program, which aims to encourage more investments to the country that will eventually create more jobs for the Filipinos. (PCOO)
