MANILA, Philippines — The nation joins the rest of the world in the celebration of Christmas Eve (bisperas ng Pasko) on Saturday night, marking the culmination of months of preparation for Christmas Day on Sunday. At the Manila Cathedral in Intramuros, Manila, Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio G. Tagle will celebrate the Christmas Eve mass at 8:30 p.m. Church services will include the lighting of the white center candle – the Christ candle -- in the Advent wreath to herald the Birth of our Savior Jesus Christ. The Belen will also finally be complete with the addition of the Baby Jesus, which has been conspicuously missing since it was set up. (Christina I. Hermoso)
Presidential satisfaction
Malacañang said on Friday the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey showing an increase in President Benigno S. Aquino III’s satisfaction rating shows the continuing trust and confidence of the Filipino people in the Aquino administration. “Our people are affirming their trust and confidence in the President’s leadership,” Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma said. “They are rallying behind his call for good governance. They are witnessing concrete gains as an outcome of reforms in the economic and social spheres,” he said. The latest SWS survey conducted from December 3 to 7 this year and released on Friday showed that the net satisfaction rating of the President slightly increased to +58 in December from +56 in September. (Madel Sabater)
MMFF parade
Motorists are advised to avoid using Roxas Boulevard and other roads leading to the Quirino Grandstand at the Rizal Park on Saturday afternoon to avoid being caught in traffic congestion because of the annual Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) parade. Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Francis Tolentino said the parade of showbiz stars in the yearly film fest will kick off at 2 p.m. at the Mall of Asia where casts of MMFF movie entries and their floats would assemble. The parade will then pass through to EDSA, turning left to Roxas Boulevard, and pass the Quirino Grandstand in Luneta, Manila. “Motorists may experience snarl traffic during the parade participated in by the celebrities of the Metro Manila Film Festival that attracted thousands of fans,” said Tolentino. (Anna Liza T. Villas)
Registration suspended
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said voter registration will take a break from December 23 up to January 2. Voter registration will resume on January 3, 2012. Comelec spokesman James Jimenez, in a statement, earlier urged all qualified voters to register early to avoid the deadline rush. Deadline for registration for the next scheduled elections is October 31, 2012. He said any Filipino citizen, who is at least 18 years of age, a resident of the Philippines for at least one year, and in the place where he intends to vote for at least six months immediately preceding the election, can register. (Leslie Ann G. Aquino)
Torotot warning
The Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) warned against the use of toy trumpets or ‘torotot’ following the hospitalization of two children aged three and eight who accidentally swallowed the whistle that had been detached from the noisemaker. “Certain types of ‘torotot’ are made locally from plastic, foil and paper attached together using adhesives and are used to produce noise during the celebration of the New Year. (Jenny Manongdo)
source: mb.com.ph
