National Newsbits for February 25, 2013

EDSA MASS

Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas will hold a Mass today at the EDSA Shrine in Mandaluyong City to commemorate the 28th anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution. This will be the first time that Villegas will lead the celebration as head of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines. Villegas officially assumed his post as CBCP president December 2013. In an earlier interview, the protégé of the late Jaime Cardinal Sin said EDSA People Power 1 is not about Sin or former president Corazon Aquino but rather about the freedom loving Filipinos. “EDSA is not Cardinal Sin, it’s not Cory. EDSA is the people. For as long as we have people who love freedom, the EDSA spirit will always be relevant,” he said. The Mass at the EDSA Shrine will be held at 5:30 p.m. (Leslie Ann G. Aquino)

P81-M JACKPOT

Today’s Super Lotto 6/49 draw is expected to offer an estimated P81-million jackpot. The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) said no one hit the winning numbers combination of 12-41-32-08-35-16 for the Super Lotto draw last Sunday that carried a jackpot of P76.76 million. PCSO General Manager Jose Ferdinand M. Rojas II said yesterday the agency projected the Feb. 25 draw to have P81 million for the winner. He said the jackpot will depend on the ticket sales. PCSO’s main lotto games are Grand Lotto 6/55, 6/49, Mega Lotto 6/45, and Lotto 6/42. (Edd K. Usman)

N.Y.C. NOMINEE

The Senate leadership is backing the nomination of United States-educated certified public account-lawyer Hardy Aquende to lead the National Youth Commission (NYC). Senate President Franklin Drilon vouched for Aquende’s capability in leading the commission, previously chaired by Senator Bam Aquino. “Attorney Aquende will admirably perform his duties in the NYC given his very accomplished credentials,” Drilon said, citing that he has a proven track record in public service. Aquende served as Special Prosecutor for the Intensified Run-After Tax Evaders Program of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR). He teaches at Aquinas University-College of Law apart from working as Chief Legislation Officer at the Senate. Camarines Sur Rep. Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo and Magdalo partylist Rep. Gary Alejano are also supporting Aquende’s nomination to the NYC. (Charissa M. Luci)

CHINESE AMBASSADOR

The Chinese Embassy in Manila has confirmed the arrival in the country of China’s new ambassador to Manila. According to Hua Zhang, Deputy Chief of Political Section and Spokesperson of the Chinese Embassy, Ambassador Zhao Jinhua arrived in the Philippines Sunday to take over the seat vacated by Ambassador Ma Keqing who returned to China after being stationed here for only two years. Prior to being appointed to his new post in Manila, the 48-year-old Chinese diplomat headed China’s embassy in Liberia where he was honored for his dedicated services and instrumentality in the implementation of many investments and developmental projects carried out during his two years and eight months stay in the said country. (Roy C. Mabasa)