BANKING AND FINANCE JOBS IN DEMAND
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on Monday said jobs in the banking and finance services sector are currently in-demand and high-paying. Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz disclosed that those who work in the banking and finance services sector earn as much as P15,000 to P40,000 per month. “Salaries of banking and finance workers could even go up to P100,000 per month, especially for those with specialized skills,” she said. Baldoz has therefore urged high school graduates going to college to take courses related to banking and finance.  “High school and college graduates who wish to know more about in-demand and hard-to-fill jobs can browse the DOLE’s 101 Career Guide at www.ble.dole.gov.ph. The 101 Career Guide, which is updated every two years, is a list of careers that would be in-demand over the next 10 years in the country’s key employment generating sectors,” Baldoz added. Based on DOLE statistics, in-demand and high-paying jobs in the banking and finance services sector include accountants, accounting clerks, bookkeepers, auditors, finance analysts, and risk management officers.                            
Rommel C. Lontayao

TANDEM RIDERS GUN DOWN TRADER, AIDE
A businessman and his bodyguard were shot dead by two unidentified motorcycle-riding gunmen while they were biking in Famy, Laguna Sunday morning, police reported yesterday. Famy acting police chief, Senior Insp. Gerry Sanggalang identified the fatalities as Juan Gatdula Jr. and his aide, Timoteo Maalala, both residents of nearby Sta. Maria town. Sanggalang said the victims were biking along the Manila East Service Road in Famy when gunmen strafed them with bullets. The police recovered seven empty shells of a .45 at the crime scene. Laguna-PNP have already created a Task Force to investigate the killing and meanwhile encouraged civilians to provide the police with pertinent information about the incident to help them in investigating the case.                        
Raffy Ayeng

BISHOP CALLS FOR PRAYERS VS. CALAMITIES
A Catholic bishop urged the faithful to say the prayer he issued asking God to protect the country from further devastation from natural calamities. Bacolod Bishop Vicente Navarra has issued an “Oratio Imperata” for God’s protection and deliverance in view of the series of natural calamities that happened in the country the past two months. The cities of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan were devastated by rampaging flashfloods brought by Typhoon Sendong last December 17 while on February 6, a strong earthquake shook Central Visayas that killed several people and buried houses in a landslide.  Navarra directed the faithful to say the prayer before the celebration of all Masses.

An “oratio imperata,” according to a Catholic dictionary is an ordered prayer for a special intention.                              
Rommel C. Lontayao