Metrobriefs

Meatless Mondays pushed

A councilor has urged Quezon City Hall employees and students to abstain from eating meat on Mondays to improve their health. According to Councilor Jessica Castelo Daza, research has suggested that a vegetarian diet reduces the risk of coming down with obesity, hypertension, diabetes mellitus and some types of cancers. The program, which takes after the “Meatless Monday” program of John Hopkins University and Columbia University Schools of Public Health, aims to promote a healthier diet at least once a week. “If every resident of Quezon City would leave out meat for one day a week, in just one year this would reduce one’s carbon footprint and save precious resources like trees, water and fossil fuel,” she said. Julie M. Aurelio

Teachers demand benefits

Manila public school teachers yesterday took turns protesting the city government’s failure to release P520 million worth of additional benefits for them and other city workers. However, the city government claimed that apart from the lack of funds, the incentives were being questioned by the Commission on Audit. Melinda Anonuevo, president of the 11,000-strong Manila Public School Teachers Association Inc., said that the benefits included P6,000 for teachers and P3,000 for nonteaching personnel aside from a P10,000 performance enhancement incentive for 2010 and the third trench of increases under the salary standardization law. “We are holding this protest action in two shifts, morning and afternoon, so as not to disturb our students’ classes in school,” Anonuevo told the Inquirer, adding that at least 500 teachers were taking part in the protest per shift.  Jeannette I. Andrade

Requiem Mass for war victims

The Requiem Mass for victims of the battle for the liberation of Manila in 1945 which was originally scheduled to be held at the Manila Metropolitan Cathedral Basilica on Monday, Feb. 13, will be held instead at San Agustin Church on Gen. Luna Street, Intramuros, Manila, near the CBCP building on the same date at 10 a.m. The Cathedral has been closed since Feb. 7 for emergency repairs. The Mass is sponsored by the Prayer Warriors of the Holy Souls. More than 100,000 civilians were killed during the month-long battle between Japanese and American soldiers. For details, contact the Prayer Warriors office (02) 531-0391 or (02)532-2381 locals 100 and 101. Or e-mail: [email protected].