Dagupan launches search for new corporate seal

DAGUPAN CITY - The “Dagupan City Corporate Seal Redesigning Contest” was recently launched in a bid to change this city’s 68-year-old seal.

At stake for the winner of the search is P50,000 while second and third placers will receive P30,000 and P20,000, respectively.

The competition is open to bona fide residents here aged 15 and above. But city officials and members of the co-sponsoring non-governmental organizations are not eligible to participate.

Each contestant may submit at least two entries, accompanied by a duly accomplished entry form.

Each entry must be with a CD or DVD containing the proposed seal and a hard copy of the same; or an 8 ½” x 11” substance 20 bond paper in full color together with the detailed explanation of the symbols. 

Every entry shall have a "shield", which is the most important part of the corporate seal. It can be submitted from January 1 to 31, 2011 to the Ad Hoc Committee in the City Hall here.

City Council Secretary Jorge Estrada recommended that change of the city's corporate logo as the old one is no longer responsive to current realities

Estrada said entries should reflect the indigenous character of the city as a coastal government with a thriving fishing and aquaculture industry.

It shall feature either visual, abstract or natural emblems representing significant characteristics or aspects of the city’s geography, tourists sports or historical landmarks, economic or cultural aspects or events related to its history.

All the entries will be viewed and judged on February 18, 2011 at the Museu na Dagupan.

The contest is sponsored by the city government, the Pangasinan Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry and More-than-Conquerors Breakfast Club. (Liway C. Manantan-Yparraguirre)

Source:http://www.sunstar.com.ph/pangasinan/local-news/dagupan-launches-search-new-corporate-seal

Bishop defends youth attendance in Simbang Gabi

DAGUPAN CITY -- Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas defended the Filipino youth from criticisms that they are only attending the nine-day Simbang Gabi to meet new friends not minding the true meaning of Christmas.

“I would like to stand on behalf of the youths, and I would like to defend them from other adults who judge our youths so harshly,” he remarked Thursday morning.

“Our youths are there in the church for Simbang Gabi because they know that in the church they are going to meet Jesus. And when you meet Jesus, you don’t meet Jesus alone. You meet Jesus with your friends, because it is only in living for others that we can truly live for God,” he sincerely explained.

 “That is why Saint John said how can you say you love God whom you cannot see when your neighbor whom you can see you do not love. The new name of Jesus is OTHERS. When people go to church and meet friends, that is how it should be; because if you go to church and the person seated or standing beside you does not become your friend, Jesus would not be happy with your sacrifice because the mass should not only lead us closer to God, the mass should lead us closer to one another,” the Archbishop further said.

Meanwhile, he called on the Catholic parishioners not to take priests for granted.

“This Christmas, I invite you to reflect on the reality that Christmas would not be complete without the priests. How can you have Christmas without mass? How can you have Christmas without Simbang Gabi. How can you have Christmas without being blessed inside the church and receiving the Lord,” he remarked.

“We need priests because we need Jesus. And it is the duty of the priest, it is the privilege of the priest to give us Jesus. This Christmas, I invite you to say thanks to your priests and do not take them for granted. You say thank you to them that you are here because a priest is a sign that God loves His people; and a priest is a sign that God continuous to care for his people,” he added.

Archbishop Villegas noted that priests who are addressed as "Father" are also mothers. 

“Mother like the Virgin Mary because the priest gives birth to Jesus on the altar. The Blessed Mother gave birth to Jesus in the manger 2000 years ago; and everyday the priest gives birth to Jesus on the altar," he said.

“If we want to realize the song, sana araw araw pasko lagi, it is very easy. It does not mean partying everyday; it does not mean exchanging gift everyday. Araw-araw pasko lagi just means go to mass because every mass is Christmas. Ang bawat misa ay ang Diyos bumababa galing sa langit and embraces us,” he added.

Villegas reiterated his call to everyone that when they arrive in church, they should make a sign of the cross at the forehead of their son, nephew or grandchildren.

“You can tell them this is a blessing coming from Father Soc, the archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan. Then after making the sign of the cross at their forehead, pakisabi sa mga anak ninyo, magpari ka. Sapagkat yong magkaroon ka ng anak na pari is the greatest blessing a mother can ever receive from the Lord. When your son becomes a priest, he is no longer only your son, he becomes Jesus for other people. And there is no honor, there is no dignity, there is no blessing and grace that can equal it,” he said. (Liway C. Manantan-Yparraguirre/Sunnex)

Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/pangasinan/local-news/bishop-defends-youth-attendance-simbang-gabi