News
This week in good news (September 7- 12)
(Thomas Galvez/ Flickr/ https://flic.kr/p/btYhkQ)
Months before Pope Francis arrives for his four-day visit next year, people could now sort of take selfies with him, thanks to the cardboard standees that Radyo Veritas would be putting up all over Metro Manila. About a hundred Pope standees would be placed in churches, schools, and malls. The reason for this, according to fomer Archbishop Oscar Cruz, is to make people aware that the Pope is coming.
More good news? The MRT’s much-needed upgrades would be finished in 2016, said DOTC secretary Jun Abaya. New trains will be arriving next year; there will be a unified ticketing system; facilities like elevators and escalators will be improved. Let’s just hope all of this comes true.
Here’s even more good news from this week:
Phl hotels ready for global market
A team from the International Accommodation Assessors conducted a national review of hotel standards across key tourist destinations in the Philippines and determined that our hotels have “very high standards.” The team, which was composed of 10 experts from different countries, also noted the uniqueness of Filipino hospitality, specifically citing that “the warmth of welcome for guests in all types of accommodations is almost unique among international destinations.”
45 Fijian peacekeepers released – UN
The 45 Fijan peacekeepers who were kidnapped by Al-Qaeda-linked rebels have been released on Thursday, September 11. The 81 Filipino peacekeepers, also part of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) were also captured but later managed to escape. According to a UN spokesperson, all the 45 peacekeepers are in good condition.
Pinoy bags grand prize in UN photo contest in Seoul
Out of 3,350 contestants, Filipino musician Ronnie Dayo took home the grand prize at a United Nations-sponsored photo competition held in Seoul, Korea. Dayo won 5 million and was awarded a certificate for “Fire,” the piece he submitted to the “2014 Focus on Your World” Environmental Photo Competition.
General Santos breaks world record for largest fish display
The 16th Tuna Festival in General Santos City garnered the new world record for the largest fish display, beating out the Netherlands for the previous record. The festival, which included floats and games, culminated in a fish in display in which 33.6 metric tons of tuna were put on display, easily beating out the Dutch record of 4.5 metric tons.
