600 villagers avail of PPP services

A total of 600 residents in baranggay Bisigan this city have availed of various basic services rendered by the city government during the People to People Program (PPP) held there Friday.

During the city government's one-stop community outreach program led by City Mayor Constantino G. Jaraula, 600 patients received free medical consultation and medicine while 48 availed of dental services and 43 boys were circumcised. A total of 419 residents in the barangay also availed of supplemental feeding, while another 350 families each took home 5 kilos of rice as part of the city's rice assistance program.

On veterinary and agricultural services, 4 dog owners availed of rabies vaccination and de-worming for their pets while 380 seedlings of jackfruit, marang, durian and coffee and 400 packs of pechay, okra, pole sitao and kangkong seeds were distributed to farmers.

More than 30 pupils and kids also read books and learning materials, while seven residents got residence certificates, three residents paid real property tax and one registered his cattle during the activity.

The PPP highlight was the mass wedding of 2 unwed couples administered by Mayor Jaraula and Vice Mayor Vicente Y. Emano witnessed by Besigan barangay chairman Melenio H. Minister and city councilors Reynaldo Advincula, Aaron Neri, Marycor Calizo, Ian Acenas, Alden Bacal, Emmanuel Abejuela, Alexander Dacer, Dante Pajo, Simeon Licayan, Ian Mark Nacaya and Ramon Tabor. (City Information Office)

Hilot to highlight RP participation in World Expo

Hilot, a form of massage unique to the Philippines, will highlight the Philippines' participation in the Shanghai World Expo in 2010.

Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano said the Philippine national pavilion will also feature musical performances and city planning with "Performing Cities as the theme.

"The Philippines is a famous for its therapy spa and a kind of massage called hilot. Hilot, as one of the Filipino healing arts, is the oldest practice in the Philippines," Durano said in a statement.

Citing its popularity during the Aichi Expo in Japan in 2005, Durano said that visitors to the Philippine Pavilion will be able to experience a brief massage at the pavilion.

Durano, in his capacity as Philippine Commisioner General to the World Expo 2010, signed the Philippine participation contract at the Shanghai World Expo Coordination Bureau last March 27.

Signing for the Chinese side was Prof. Zhou haimin, Deputy Director General of the Bureau Shanghai World Expo Coordination.

The Philippines confirmed a 2,000-square-meter pavilion in the Expo site. "The pavilion in Shanghai Expo is the biggest ever in the history of Philippine participation in global expos in terms of both size and budget," said Durano.

He said the Philippine pavilion will present how the Filipino people integrate music and performances into urban planning and make them an essential part of the landscape.

One of themost unusual aspects of the pavilion is that it will have not only restaurants and cafes, but also spas and a massage center.

Phippine Consul General to Shanghai Maria Rowena Mendoza Sanchez said the Philippines among the Chinese people in the run up to 2010.

The Philippines has set aside June 9 as Philippines Pavilion Day, an annual celebration date for the friendship of China and the Philippines. PNA Gold Star Daily