Jesus is Lord Church Worldwide Anniversary Celebration Mass

 On Jan. 15, 1995, a Sunday, the Pope arrived at Malacañang Park aboard the Popemobile from the Apostolic Nunciature on Taft Avenue, but was forced to ride the presidential helicopter along with Cardinal Sin and Papal Nuncio Gian Vincenzo Moreni to get to Quirino Grandstand amid the huge crowd on the streets.

Biggest gathering

At past 10 in the morning, the Pope began the three-and-a-half-hour Mass that marked the closing of World Youth Day. Attended by 4 million people, it was the biggest gathering so far in the Pontiff’s 16-year reign.

The Mass’ concelebrants included Sin, Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, Vatican Secretary of State Angelo Cardinal Sodano and Eduardo Cardinal Pironio, head of the Pontifical Council of the Laity.

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Government readies plan for $6-B North-South Commuter Rail project

Aside from the construction of the country’s first subway system, residents of Metro Manila can soon expect the building of a new rail facility that will transport commuters from Malolos, Bulacan in the north to Calamba, Laguna in the south.

This as the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) prepares to present the $6-billion North-South Commuter Rail (NSCR) to the National Economic and Development Authority’s (NEDA) for its approval, after which the project will be bid out to private proponents under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) program.

 
Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya said the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has already finished its feasibility study for the NSCR, which is an 89.7-kilometer mass transport system that will run along the Philippine National Railways (PNR) State-owned tracks.

“We are already going up to NEDA. The NCSR is already scheduled for presentation to the next NEDA Investment Coordination Committee meeting,” he told the Manila Bulletin.

Due to the huge investment requirement of the NSCR, Abaya said the project will be offered in two components: The Malolos-Tutuban section and the Tutuban-Calamba portion.

“JICA is interested to fund the Malolos-Tutuban component through an official development assistance loan. Meanwhile, the Tutuban-Calamba component will be offered through a public-private partnership,” he disclosed.

Abaya said the Malolos-Tutuban section of the NSCR will be elevated while the Tutuban-Calamba portion will be semi-elevated, with some underground and at-grade sections.

“What is clear is that Malolos to Tutuban will be elevated. Tutuban to Calamba will be at grade in the meantime but we are aiming to elevate it eventually the road,” he said.

The official said the NSCR will include rehabilitation of the existing tracks, reinforcement of the rail line’s foundation, and double-tracking up to Calamba.

“Once the rails are steady enough to accommodate freight, cargo containers can pass through the rails instead of the roads. Cargo movers will only have to pay for rail usage,” Abaya pointed out.

It is not immediately clear if the provision of rolling stock is included in the NSCR but Abaya admitted that there is a need to augment the existing fleet of the PNR.

Like the NSCR, the $3-billion Mass Transit System Loop (MTSL) – a 12-kilometer underground railway that will link the Bonifacio Global City in Taguig to the Central Business District of Makati City, and the SM Mall of Asia Complex in Pasay City—will be presented to the NEDA upon the finalization of its route. But unlike the NSCR and the MTSL, the feasibility study on DOTC’s grand plan to extend the PNR’s interprovincial operation up to Matnog Port in Sorsogon is not yet finished. The P271-billion “Integrated Luzon Railway Project” is seen to revive the PNR’s operation to La Union up north and to Albay down south and extend it further to Sorsogon.

12 June 2014 Scenario

   The Centennial of Philippine Independence 

At 6:00 a.m., all cities and municipalities will hold DAYANAS of brass bands, as they were held on June 12, 1898. 

At exactly 7:00 a.m., there will be simultaneous thanksgiving masses and services in all churches of all denomination nationwide. 

As s customary practice, His Excellency President Benigno S. Aquino III, will preside over the flag-raising ceremonies at the Aguinaldo Shrine in Kawit, Cavite also at 7:00 in the morning. Simultaneous flag-raising ceremonies will be held at all historical shrines. 

Starting at 9:00 a.m., Departments of National Defense and the Interior and Local Government, in cooperation with the Metro Manila Development Authority, will spearhead appropriate activities prior to the Centennial parade. 

These activities may vary from sky-diving exhibitions to regattas by the bay. 

At the Malacanang Palace, the President will host the traditional Vin d' Honneur at 11:00 in the morning. 

Likewise, Provincial Governors and City Mayors all over the country will hold their special Thanksgiving Lunch at their respective Capitols for their constituents. 

The Department of Tourism, in tandem with the Hotel and Restaurants Association of the Philippines, will host a special 3-day Philippine Centennial Food Festival at the Rizal Park. The Festival will feature regional dishes and other gastronomic delights from provinces such as Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, Ilocos Region, among others. 

The highlight of the Independence Day Celebration is the Philippine Centennial Parade at the Quirino Grandstand at 3:00 p.m. 

The pre-parade activities starting with a hundred people with Tambuli and another hundred in tribal costumes playing drums, will signal the start of the Parade, with 50 Babaylanes (Catalonans) chanting prayers to drive away evil spirits - also a ritual of peace and thanksgiving. 

Another batch of Tambuli & horn players will be at the Grandstand area to help amplify the sound of the Tambuli and shell horns. 

A different kind of Military Parade will be witnessed by the public prior to the Centennial Parade. 

The Military component will feature the best of the Philippines' Armed Forces. The participating contingents will be wearing new gala uniforms and will execute fancy drills and formations during the parade at selected areas, specially in front of the Quirino Grandstand. 

At exactly 4:10 p.m., the June 12, 1989 scenario at Kawit, Cavite will be re-enacted, focusing on the replica of the old house of Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo, a three-dimension structure located opposite the Granstand. An actor playing the role of Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista will read excerpts form the Declaration of Independence. An actor playing Artemio "El Vibora" Ricarte will explain the symbols of the Philippine flag, and an actor playing the role of Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo will wave the flag while the crowd shouts "Mabuhay and Kalayaan". 

Then, the Banda Matanda of San Francisco de Malabon (now Gen. Trias) will play the tune of Marcha Magdalo, the anthem played after the declaration of independence. 

After reading the declaration, a Philippine Flag will be given to President Aquino. The President will wave the Philippine Flag at the Grandstand. As the President waves the flag, white doves will be released, bells will be tolled, and fireworks will be lit to signal the band to play the Philippine National Anthem. 

A thousand-voice choir will sing the anthem accompanies by the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra. 

The President then delivers his centennial speech. Following his speech, a big Philippine Flag --- 100 feet in size --- with giant balloons tied to it will be released. 

After the giant balloons are released, representatives of countries that had consular relations with Spanish Philippines will lead the march in the Family of Nations wearing appropriate costumes and waving their respective colors. 

The Grand Centennial Parade starts at 5:00 p.m. up to 7:30 p.m. Immediately after, the people will witness massive fireworks display and participate in the revelry lasting up to the early hours of the morning. 

ABS-CBN, GMA Network both claim June ratings leads

 

ABS-CBN Corp. claimed the nationwide ratings lead for June, while rival GMA Network, Inc. said it continued to dominate the viewer-rich markets which it defines as “Urban Luzon” and “Mega Manila,” based on separate surveys commissioned by the two networks.

     In a statement released yesterday, ABS-CBN Corp. said that data from research firm Kantar Media showed it captured an average audience share of 45%, or 13 points higher than GMA Network's 32%.

Kantar Media uses a nationwide panel size of 2,609 urban and rural homes that represent the whole Philippine TV viewing population, while the other ratings data supplier AGB Nielsen is thought to concentrate on urban areas, representing 57% of the Philippine TV viewing population.

The Lopez-controlled network continued to win the primetime block (6PM-12MN) with an average audience share of 51%, or a 21-point lead over GMA Network's 30%. This was driven by TV shows, such as "The Legal Wife," with a national TV rating of 36.2%. TV shows "Dyesebel" and "Ikaw Lamang" take turns on the top two spots for weekdays.

In a separate statement, GMA Network said that data from ratings provider Nielsen TV Audience Measurement showed that it maintained its lead in total day ratings in Mega Manila with a 35.9% household audience share, up 5.9 points from ABS-CBN's 30% and up 23.2 points from TV5's 12.7%.

For the month of June, GMA Network claimed ratings in Urban Luzon with a 34.5% total day household audience share, surpassing ABS-CBN's 32.7% by 1.8 points and TV5's 11.6% by 22.9 points.

Urban Luzon and Mega Manila represent 77% and 60%, respectively, of all urban TV households in the country.

Furthermore, GMA Network said that its most watched programs in both Urban Luzon and Mega Manila, include "Magpakailanman", "Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho", "24 Oras", "My Love from the Star", "Celebrity Bluff" and "Niño".

On Wednesday, shares of ABS-CBN Corp fell by 90 centavos or 2.41% to P36.50, while GMA Network rose P0.09 or 1.16% to P7.84. -- Chrisee Jalyssa V. Dela Paz