As the lively and festive spirit of Chinese New Year approaches, it’s time to usher in good fortune and prosperity with the symbolic colors of red available at SM malls in Marilao, Baliwag, and Pulilan.

In Chinese culture, red is considered the color of luck, joy, and prosperity and is believed to ward off evil spirits and bring good fortune. SM Bulacan malls’ anchors and other retailers have curated a collection of amazing items to enhance your celebrations, featuring everything red. The SM Store, Miniso, Surplus, and SM Home offer a diverse array of red-themed items, ranging from outfits, accessories, novelty items, home essentials, and a lot more.

Additionally, Toy Kingdom and The SM Store’s Toy Express carry fun and huggable red dragon plushies that are symbols of good fortune and prosperity in 2024. Lucky toy dragons are more than playthings; they’re a meaningful way to embrace the spirit of the Chinese New Year. Whether displayed as festive decor or enjoyed in playful moments, these dragons carry positive energy and are believed to bring blessings into your home. Aim for positive energy and abundance. Attract good fortune and get everything red at SM City Marilao, SM City Baliwag, and SM Center Pulilan.

CAMP OLIVAS, CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, PAMPANGA—Police Regional Office (PRO) 3 Ditector PBGen Jose Hidalgo Jr.  on Monday led the celebration of the 33rd Philippine National Police (PNP) Foundation Day Anniversary which coincided with the Traditional first working day of the week flag raising ceremony followed by a wreath laying ceremony held at the Heroes monument in this camp.

City of San Fernando Vice Mayor Hon. Benedict Jasper Lagman graced the event as the Guest of Honor and Speaker, joined by the families of the fallen PRO3 personnel. In a poignant address, Hon. Lagman conveyed his deepest appreciation to the dedicated officers of Central Luzon for their tireless efforts in maintaining peace and order throughout the region. He reassured the police force that his office remains open and committed to providing additional support for the betterment of the organization in the region.

Reflecting on the journey since its establishment in 1991, the PNP has evolved into a key member of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG). The force has played a pivotal role in upholding peace and order, contributing significantly to the region’s overall tranquility.

“Beyond law enforcement, the PNP has actively engaged in initiatives aimed at professionalizing its personnel, aligning with principles of good governance for the betterment of society. The ceremony served as a moment of reflection and celebration, acknowledging the PNP’s enduring commitment to public service and its role in shaping a safer and more secure community,” Hidalgo said.

LUNGSOD NG BALIWAG—Nakatikim ng masustansiyang “nutri bun” na tinapay ang mga chikiting na mag-aaral kasama ang kanilang mga magulang at kabilang din ang mga residente sa Bayan ng Baliwag ng bumiyahe sa lugar si Sen. Imee Marcos nitong Miyerkules kasabay ng pamamahagi ng ayuda para sa mga displaced vendors sa ilalim ng programang Assistance for Individuals In Crisis Situation (AICS) ng Department of Social Welfare and Development.

Sinamahan ni Mayor Ferdie Estrella, punong lungsod ng Baliwag at kanyang ina, Gng. Sonia Estrella ang senadora sa pamamahagi ng mga tinapay na may kasama pang laruan para sa mga musmos na mag-aaral sa Day Care sa nasabing siyudad.

Masayang ibinagagi ng senadora na siya ay isang Baliwagenya dahil ang kanyang lola, ang nanay ni dating Unang Ginang Imelda Romualdez Marcos na si Dona Remedios Trinidad ay taga Baliwag, Bulacan.

Muli anyang itinataguyod  sa ngayon ng pamahalaang nasyunal ang tinapay na “nutri bun” na unang natikman ng mga Pilipino noong panahon ng kanyang ama, dating Pangulong Ferdinand E. Marcos bilang suporta sa nutrtional program ng gobyerno.

Larawan ni Anton Luis Reyes Catindig

CITY OF MALOLOS – Ten indigenous senior high school students from the Municipality of Norzagaray were awarded scholarship grants totaling to P30,000 through one of the priority programs of the Provincial Government of Bulacan dubbed as Tulong Pang-Edukasyon para sa Bulakenyo during the Monday Flag Ceremony at the Bulacan Capitol Gymnasium here.

Just like any other students who are vying to be a part of the scholarship program, the ten indigenous scholars also submitted the necessary requirements in order to be qualified to avail the scholarship.

Governor Daniel R. Fernando emphasized the significance of creating a more inclusive and supportive community in terms of education, thus ensuring that deserving students receive the necessary resources to pursue their academic endeavors.

“Napakahalaga ng edukasyon sa pag-unlad ng bawat tao, lalo na sa mga indigenous students. Ang pagbibigay ng tulong sa kanilang edukasyon ay isang hakbang patungo sa mas makatarungan at mas pantay-pantay na lipunan,” the governor said.

In addition to the current scholarship initiative, the PGB has collaborated with the Landbank of the Philippines to launch “Perang Inimpok Savings Option” (PISO) account to benefit indigenous students and increase the number of scholarships that can be distributed to them.

Currently, 3,500 out of 16,000 indigenous scholars are enrolled in the PISO account.

The Landbank PISO account targets to help underserved Filipinos including students, Indigenous People, public utility vehicle drivers, vendors, household helpers, farmers, and fishermen to open a Landbank deposit account with only P1.00 as the minimum initial deposit.

Additional scholarship fund will also be given by Landbank.

Mr. President, distinguished colleagues: It is my honor and privilege to co-sponsor Proposed Senate Resolution No. 857, congratulating ang commending the FIBA Local Organizing Committee, the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP), the private sector, and all government agencies for the successful hosting of the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup. 

As a basketball player and a huge fan of the game, this Representation couldn’t be prouder and more elated that in 2017, we were selected by FIBA, along with Japan and Indonesia, to host the 2023 Basketball World Cup – the flagship event of the sport’s global governing body and arguably the biggest basketball competition in the world. 

We were the first Asian country to host the FIBA World Championship in 1978 and last year, we are again part of history as this was the first time that the World Cup was staged in three countries. We know that it took years, countless meetings and painstaking planning and organizing to ensure that our hosting is a success. The local organizing committee and the SBP, along with the concerned government agencies and LGUs, ensured that the COVID-19 pandemic would not discourage our preparations for the global event. 

Kaya naman po tayo ay lubos na nagagalak na nagbunga ang hirap at pagod ng bawat isa, at ang ating bansa ay muli na namang nagtala ng kasaysayan — on the opening day of the World Cup held at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan, the hometown of this representation, we recorded an astonishing 38,115 spectators, the biggest ever in Basketball World Cup attendance, beating the previous record of 32,616 fans that watched the 1994 World Cup final in Canada. Having watched live several of the rest of the games, we were witness to how seamless and organized the entire event was, which made the viewing experience even greater for basketball fans all over the world. 

In addition, Mr. President, the 2023 World Cup recorded more than 20 billion impressions and 480 million engagements across all social media platforms, which is more than triple the numbers achieved in 2019, as well as 4.6 billion total social media video views, four times the record in the last World Cup, making it the biggest and most successful event in FIBA’s history. 

Hence, we would like to congratulate once again the FIBA Local Organizing Committee; the SBP, headed by Chairman Emeritus Manny V. Pangilinan, President Al Panlilio, and of course, its chairman, our dear colleague and friend Senator Sonny Angara; all government agencies and LGUs; the private sector; and volunteers for making our hosting of the 2023 Basketball World Cup an immense success. We also thank the players and the coaching staff for giving their all in representing the country in the tournament. 

In our hosting of the World Cup, we not only displayed our warmth and hospitality in the global stage, we also proved once again that Filipinos are indeed the best basketball fans in the world. 

In closing, Mr. President, we welcome the very good news shared by SBP over the weekend that our kababayan Justin Brownlee has been cleared to play for Gilas Pilipinas in the first window of the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers, which will begin later this month. This is a very welcome development and we would like to congratulate SBP, Mr. Brownlee, and the entire Filipino basketball community who couldn’t wait to watch him play for the country again. 

Mabuhay ang Philippine basketball! Mabuhay ang mga manlalarong Pilipino! Mabuhay ang Pilipinas! Thank you and may God bless us all.

LUNGSOD NG MALOLOS– Tinanggap ng Pamahalaang Panlalawigan ng Bulacan sa pangunguna ni Gobernador Daniel R. Fernando ang dalawang refurbished na ambulansya mula sa mga delegado ng Gyeonggi Province, South Korea na pinangunahan ng Vice Chairman ng Special Committee on Social Welfare ng Gyeonggi Provincial Party ng Democratic Party of Korea Kim Wonki sa pamamagitan ng Social Welfare Foundation Go & Do sa isang turnover ceremony kahapon.

Ayon kay Fernando, makatutulong ang pagbibigay ng mga ambulansya sa pagtugon sa mga pangangailangang medikal ng mga Bulakenyo na magbibigay daan sa lalong pagpapabuti ng serbisyong pangkalusugan sa lalawigan.

“Ang pangangalaga po sa kalusugan ng mga Bulakenyo ay bahagi ng ating 10-point agenda na mahigpit na tinututukan ng ating Pamahalaang Panlalawigan. Sa pamamagitan ng donasyong ito, mas lalo po tayong lumapit sa ating pangarap ng mataas na kalidad ng kalusugan para sa lahat ng ating mamamayan,” anang gobernador.

Suportado ng Sangguniang Panlalawigan Resolution No. 808-S’2023 ang deed of donation sa pagitan ng Pamahalaang Panlalawigan at Go & Do.

Dumating din ang iba pang delegadong Koreano sa programa ng donasyon kabilang sina Shinhan University Graduate School Dean Jang Yongwoon, Park Siwook, Go & Do CEO Park Woohee, Go&Do Secretary General Yu Yongdae, at assistant Maria Unika Velarde.

Naging posible ang paglilipat ng mga sasakyang medikal sa pamamagitan ng broker na Optimum Impex Solutions.

Pumirma sa isang kasunduan sina Gob. Daniel R. Fernando ng Bulacan, Pinuno ng Provincial History, Arts,
Culture and Tourism Office Dr. Eliseo Dela Cruz at Dr. Leilani Samson Cunanan ng DepED Malolos upang pormal
na ilunsad ang programang SINEliksik Bulacan sa Eskwelahan sa mga paaralan sa Bulacan sa idinaos na
Lingguhang Pagtataas ng Watawat sa Bulacan Capitol Gymnasium, Lungsod ng Malolos, Bulacan. Nasa larawan
din sina Bokal Romina D. Fermin a Romeo V. Castro, Jr.

LUNGSOD NG MALOLOS—Umabot sa mahigit P1-milyong halaga ng burial assistance, cash aide, bigas, hygiene kit at assistive devices ang ipinamahagi ng Provincial Governent of Bulacan sa mga apektadong residente mula sa iba’t ibang bayan sa ng lalawigan nitong Lunes. 

Pinangunahan nina Gobernador Daniel Fernando, Bise Gobernador Alexis Castro ang nasabing pamimigay ng suporta at ayuda sa halos 420 katao na namatayan ng mahal sa buhay, nasunugan at mga may karamdaman na nangangailangan ng wheelchairs, stretchers at iba pang assistive devices. 

Dinagdagan din ng gobernador ng extra P500 cash ang bawat isa sa nasabing bilang ng mga residente na sumadya sa Hiyas Pavilion ng Hiyas Convention Center sa lungaod na ito upang tanggapin ang kani-kanilang mga tulong mula sa panlalawigang pamahalaan. 

Ayon kay Rowena Tiongson-Joson, hepe ng Bulaacn Provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer, 305 na naulilang kaanak ng mga yumao ng tumanggap ng P2,000, P5,000 at P10,000 halaga ng burial assistance. 

Nasa 65 naman na mga biktima ng sunog ang binigyan ng tig P5,000 cash, kasama pa ang isang cavan ng bigas, personal hygiene kit at emergency bag habang 50 katao namang may mga karamdaman ang pinagkalooban ng mga kailangan nilang assistive devices. 

Ang pamamahagi ayon kay Fernando ay bahagi ng kanyang programa na pagkalinga sa mga kababayang agarang nangangailangan ng tulong suporta mula sa pamahalaang panlalawigan dahil sila ay biktima ng sakuna, trahedya ng pagkawalan ng mahal sa buhay at may mga karamdaman.