President Benigno Simeon Aquino III poses with the 2010 Ramon Magsaysay awardees after presenting them their respective awards in ceremonies on Tuesday (August 31) at the Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo of the Cultural Center of the Philippines along Roxas Boulevard in Manila. They are (from left) Yuan Kun, who represented Pan Yue, and Fu Qiping of China; A.H.M. Noman Khan of Bangladesh; Huo Daishan of China; Dr. Christopher Bernido and Dr. Ma. Victoria Carpio-Bernido of the Philippines; and Tadatoshi Akiba of Japan. Rodolfo Manabat/PCOO-NIB Photo

Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala (inset, top left) enjoins provincial governors to share with the Department of Agriculture their respective counterparts so they could bankroll and implement more agri-fishery infrastructure and livelihood projects, during the 2nd general assembly of the League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP), August 27, 2010, in Manila. He also presented the ‘Agri Pinoy’ program, anchored on sustainable agriculture, natural resource-based management, and food security — with the active participation of farmers’ groups, NGOs, private sector and provincial, city and municipal governments. It aims to promote community-based seed production and banking system; ‘Gulayan sa Paaralan’ in partnership with the Department of Education, LGUs and members of the House of Representatives; continuing dialogue and encounter among the DA, farmers, fisherfolk, LGUs and agri-fishery stakeholders; and promotion of responsible food consumption patterns, production of alternative staple food, and matc Jose Lucas/DA

Rudy and Ludy Priscilla (standing at extreme left in back row), Gloria Dy, Mr. and Mrs. Arwyn Dy, hosted a get-together for visiting friends from the US and Peru recently. The visiting friends are Mr. & Mrs. Sergio Yap from New York, Mr. and Mrs. Alden from Florida, Mrs. Elena Fuellas and family from Chicago, and Mrs. Isabel Vda Neyra with daughter Ema and son Alonso from Peru. ANTONIO SICAT, St. Jamestown News Service

President Benigno Simeon Aquino inspects the bullet-ridden tourist bus (Hong Thai Travel) which was used by Hongkong nationals before the unfortunate hostage-taking incident at the Quirino Grandstand in Rizal Park, Manila on midnight of Tuesday (August 24). The President expressed his condolences to the families of the victims, who are mostly tourists from Hongkong. Benjie Basug/NIB-PCOO Photo

Romy Zetazate (extreme right), news coordinator of St. Jamestown News Service, is shown in photo together with his wife, Tess (extreme left) and daugther, Lei (middle), after praying with fellow members of the Congregation of Friends of Jesus under the spiritual leadership of Pastor Teck Uy on August 15, 2010 at Area A, Brimley corner Lawrence Avenue East, Scarbrough, Ontario. MANUEL PAPA, St. Jamestown News Service

To increase palay production in the second half of the year through 2011, Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala (center) said the Department of Agriculture in partnership with local government units and farmers’ groups will implement a Quick-Turn-Around (QTA) program, provide farmers additional fertilizers to enhance the productivity of current rice crop, and expand areas planted rice to include uplands, particularly for organic fancy rice production. He said these initiatives will make up for reduced palay harvest in the first semester due to the prolonged dry spell spawned by El Niño phenomenon, during a media briefing, August 16, at the DA central office in Quezon City. With him are DA Undersecretary for policy and planning Segfredo Serrano (left) and DA Undersecretary for operations Joel Rudinas. Kathrino Resurreccion, DA Info Service

Photo shows the Toronto's Yonge-Dundas Square the venue of the 4th Filipinos Making Waves Festival set on August 21-22, 2010 which will show the colorful costumes of the Mindanao Island thus carrying the theme "Tanaw Mindanao." The musical show is free featuring Toronto's Filipino musical talents and from United States.

Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala (left) explains to United States Ambassador to the Philippines Harry K. Thomas, Jr. the major initiatives the Aquino Administration will undertake to attain rice self-sufficiency by 2013, during the latter’s courtesy call August 12, 2010 at the Department of Agriculture central office in Quezon City. Sec. Alcala took the opportunity to thank Ambassador Thomas for the sustained mutual cooperation and trade between the two countries, particularly in the area of agriculture, fisheries, and agribusiness. The country’s major agricultural export products to the US are coconut, sugar and seaweeds, while our leading US agricultural imports are wheat, soybean meal and dairy products. They both expressed confidence that the centuries-old RP-US partnership will be further enhanced during the respective terms of Philippine President Benigno Aquino III and US President Barrack Obama. Alan Jay Jacalan, DA-Info Service

Renewed, stronger DA-LGU partnership for food security, self-sufficiency. Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala (2nd from right) began consulting with local government executives to renew and strengthen partnerships to successfully attain President Benigno Aquino’s food security program, particularly in attaining rice self-sufficiency by 2013. Over the weekend, he met with Davao region governors and mayors during the special board meeting of the Davao Integrated Development Program (DIDP), chaired by Davao del Norte governor Rodolfo del Rosario (right). Sec. Alcala sought their support to open up more rice areas, plant more upland organic and fancy rice for domestic and export, increase production of white corn to ease the pressure on rice, and rehabilitation and maintenance of irrigation systems. Also shown (from left) are governors Douglas Cagas (Davao Sur) and Arturo Uy (Compostela Valley). Alan Jay Jacalan, DA-Info Service

Members of the Dagupan City Association of Ontario toured several places in the East Coast during this year's celebration of Canada Day. Among those shown in this photo taken Halifax are Francis Bernardo, his wife Belen, Sonia Suarez Mantubig (president), Mila Lopez (coordinator), Elisa Suarez (documentor), and Romeo Tan (founder). ANTONIO SICAT, St. Jamestown News Service